Author: Manuel

The Iranian regime launched a new wave of missile attacks against Persian Gulf countries that host U.S. military facilities. Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq reported intercepting several projectiles and condemned the Iranian bombings in the early hours of Thursday.

Late Wednesday, the United States carried out another round of strikes on Iranian territory aimed at reducing Tehran’s ability to “threaten innocent mariners who crew commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

The new offensive occurred after Washington confirmed the reinstatement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and coasts, and after the diversion of two commercial ships that, according to the Pentagon, attempted to evade U.S.-imposed restrictions.

President Donald Trump hardened his stance toward Tehran and warned that the military campaign in the Middle East could expand in the coming days if the Iranian regime does not agree to return to the negotiating table. “Next week the situation will be very bad for them,” he said.

Below, minute-by-minute coverage:

Pakistan urged Iran and the U.S. to resume peace talks to halt the war in the Middle East

Pakistan announced Thursday that it will encourage the United States and Iran to stop the violence and resume dialogue under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it helped mediate last month.

“While implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding faces challenges, Pakistan will continue to encourage all parties to end the violence and resume technical-level talks in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding,” Tahir Andrabi, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said to the press in Islamabad.

“We expressed our hope that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will normalize soon and stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and freedom of maritime navigation,” he added.

Oil prices fall

Oil prices fell in the early hours of Thursday, though they remain elevated amid intensified U.S. attacks on Iran and Iranian missile and drone strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.5% to $84.57 per barrel. At the end of February, before the conflict began, it traded near $72 per barrel. The U.S. benchmark dropped 0.2% to $79.43 per barrel.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-fmi-advirtio-que-la-oferta-de-petroleo-tardara-hasta-tres-meses-en-normalizarse-una-vez-que-ormuz-se-reabra-completamente/

Tehran threatened regional infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran

Tehran threatened Thursday to strike the regional infrastructure of countries allied with the United States if Washington follows through on its warnings to attack Iranian facilities.

The spokesman for Iran’s military headquarters said that if those warnings are carried out, “the entire infrastructure of the region would be crushed under the steel blows of the Iranian armed forces.”

Israel told the Pentagon it will keep troops in “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that the Israeli military will keep its forces in the “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement released Thursday, the two officials spoke during the night and Katz “emphasized Israel’s determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon to protect its borders and nearby communities from threats posed by jihadist forces.”

Fire and smoke observed in Chabahar, Iran, after reports of an explosion

Jordan intercepted eight Iranian missiles overnight

Jordan’s air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight Iranian missiles aimed at the country in the early hours of Thursday, the Jordanian army reported. No casualties or material damage were reported. Engineering teams secured the areas where debris fell, and the armed forces remain at maximum alert for potential further threats.

For its part, the Iranian army stated that its drones struck communications systems, fuel depots and a fixed radar station at Al Azraq air base in Jordan, identified as a U.S. military base. The statement, released by official Iranian media, said the offensive corresponds to the ninth phase of “Operation Saeqeh” (Lightning) and was launched in response to recent U.S. attacks on Iran, including a strike on a military barracks in Sistan and Baluchestan province that Tehran says killed seven servicemembers.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-regimen-de-iran-lanzo-ataques-contra-bases-e-instalaciones-militares-de-estados-unidos-en-jordania-kuwait-e-irak/

Iraq’s prime minister condemned Thursday’s “drone attack” on Erbil

Iraq’s prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, condemned a “drone attack” that violated Erbil’s airspace in the Kurdistan region, after several drones were shot down, his office reported.

Al-Zaidi said that security agencies, in coordination with regional forces, have been instructed to take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of such attacks and to protect the safety of Iraqi society.

Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran, Iran’s capital

State media in Iran reported that air defense warnings were activated in several areas of Tehran on Thursday morning and that explosions were heard in the north and west of the country.

State news agency IRNA reported that, so far, no casualties have been recorded in Tehran. Additional explosions were heard in the western province of Lorestan and in Semnan in the north, according to IRNA and the Mehr agency.

Iran’s regime launched a new wave of missile attacks against countries in the Persian Gulf that host U.S. military facilities. Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq reported intercepting several projectiles and condemned the Iranian strikes in the early hours of Thursday.

Late Wednesday, the United States carried out another round of strikes against Iranian territory aimed at reducing Tehran’s capacity to “threaten the innocent mariners aboard commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

The new offensive followed Washington’s confirmation that it had reestablished a naval blockade of Iranian ports and coasts, and that two commercial vessels had been diverted after, according to the Pentagon, they attempted to evade U.S.-imposed restrictions.

President Donald Trump hardened his stance toward Tehran and warned that the military campaign in the Middle East could expand in the coming days if the Iranian regime does not agree to return to the negotiating table. “Next week the situation will be very bad for them,” he said.

Below is the minute-by-minute coverage:

Pakistan urged Iran and the U.S. to resume peace talks to stop the war in the Middle East

On Thursday Pakistan said it will encourage the United States and Iran to halt the violence and resume dialogue under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it helped mediate last month.

“While implementing the Memorandum of Understanding faces challenges, Pakistan will continue to encourage all parties to end the violence and resume technical-level talks in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding,” said Tahir Andrabi, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, to the press in Islamabad.

“We expressed our hope that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will normalize soon and emphasized the importance of ensuring the security and freedom of maritime navigation,” he added.

Oil prices fall

Oil prices fell in the early hours of Thursday, though they remain elevated amid an intensification of U.S. strikes against Iran and Iranian missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.5% to $84.57 per barrel. At the end of February, before the conflict began, it was trading near $72 per barrel. The U.S. benchmark dropped 0.2% to $79.43 per barrel.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-fmi-advirtio-que-la-oferta-de-petroleo-tardara-hasta-tres-meses-en-normalizarse-una-vez-que-ormuz-se-reabra-completamente/

Tehran threatened regional infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran

On Thursday Tehran warned it would strike the regional infrastructure of countries allied with the United States if Washington follows through on warnings to attack Iranian facilities.

The spokesman for Iran’s military headquarters said that, if those warnings were carried out, “the entire infrastructure of the region would be crushed under the steel blows of the Iranian armed forces.”

Israel told the Pentagon it will keep troops in “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, informed his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that the Israeli military will maintain its forces in the “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement released on Thursday, the two officials spoke overnight and Katz “stressed Israel’s determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon to protect its borders and nearby communities from threats posed by jihadist forces.”

Fire and smoke seen in Chabahar, Iran, after reports of an explosion

Jordan intercepted eight Iranian missiles during the night

Jordan’s air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight Iranian missiles aimed at the country in the early hours of Thursday, the Jordanian military reported. No casualties or material damage were reported. Engineering teams secured the areas where debris fell, and the armed forces remain on high alert for possible further threats.

Iran’s military said its drones struck communications systems, fuel depots and a fixed radar station at Al Azraq air base in Jordan, identified by Tehran as a U.S. military base. The statement, carried by official Iranian media, said the offensive was the ninth phase of “Operation Saeqeh” (Lightning) and was launched in response to recent U.S. attacks on Iran, including a strike on a military barracks in Sistan and Baluchestan province that Tehran says killed seven soldiers.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-regimen-de-iran-lanzo-ataques-contra-bases-e-instalaciones-militares-de-estados-unidos-en-jordania-kuwait-e-irak/

Iraq’s prime minister condemned the “drone attack” on Erbil on Thursday

Iraq’s prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, condemned a “drone attack” that violated Erbil’s airspace in the Kurdistan region after several drones were shot down, his office said.

Al-Zaidi said security agencies, in coordination with regional forces, have been ordered to take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of these attacks and to protect the security of Iraqi society.

Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran, the capital

State media in Iran reported that air defense alarms were activated in several areas of Tehran on Thursday morning and that explosions were heard in the north and west of the country.

The state news agency IRNA reported that, so far, no casualties have been recorded in Tehran. Additional explosions were reported in Lorestan province and in Semnan in the north, according to IRNA and the Mehr news agency.

(more…)

The Iranian regime launched a new wave of missile attacks against Gulf countries that host U.S. military facilities. Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq reported intercepting several projectiles and condemned the Iranian strikes in the early hours of Thursday.

Late Wednesday, the United States carried out another round of strikes on Iranian territory aimed at reducing Tehran’s ability to “threaten innocent mariners aboard commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

The new offensive took place after Washington confirmed the reinstatement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and coasts, as well as the diversion of two commercial ships that, according to the Pentagon, attempted to evade U.S.-imposed restrictions.

President Donald Trump hardened his stance toward Tehran and warned that the military campaign in the Middle East could expand in the coming days if the Iranian regime does not agree to return to negotiations. “Next week the situation will be very bad for them,” he said.

Below is minute-by-minute coverage:

Oil prices fall

Oil prices fell in the early hours of Thursday, though they remain elevated amid an escalation of U.S. attacks on Iran and Iranian missile and drone strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.5% to $84.57 per barrel. In late February, before the conflict began, it traded near $72 per barrel. The U.S. benchmark crude price fell 0.2% to $79.43 per barrel.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-fmi-advirtio-que-la-oferta-de-petroleo-tardara-hasta-tres-meses-en-normalizarse-una-vez-que-ormuz-se-reabra-completamente/

Tehran threatened regional infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran

Tehran warned on Thursday that it will strike the regional infrastructure of U.S.-allied countries if Washington follows through on its threats to attack Iranian sites.

The spokesman for Iran’s military headquarters said that if those warnings are carried out, “the entire infrastructure of the region would be crushed under the steel blows of the Iranian armed forces.”

Israel told the Pentagon it will keep troops in “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, informed his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that the Israeli military will keep its forces in the “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement released Thursday, the two officials spoke overnight and Katz “emphasized Israel’s determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon to protect its borders and nearby communities from threats posed by jihadist forces.”

Fire and smoke seen in Chabahar, Iran, after reports of an explosion

Jordan intercepted eight Iranian missiles overnight

Jordan’s air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight Iranian missiles aimed at the country in the early hours of Thursday, the Jordanian army reported. No casualties or material damage were reported. Engineering teams secured the areas where debris fell, and the armed forces remain at high alert for possible further threats.

Meanwhile, the Iranian military said its drones attacked communications systems, fuel depots and a fixed radar station at Al Azraq airbase in Jordan, identified as a U.S. military base. The statement, released by Iranian state media, said the operation was the ninth phase of “Operation Saeqeh” (Lightning) and was launched in response to recent U.S. attacks on Iran, including a strike on a military barracks in Sistan and Baluchestan province that Tehran says killed seven service members.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-regimen-de-iran-lanzo-ataques-contra-bases-e-instalaciones-militares-de-estados-unidos-en-jordania-kuwait-e-irak/

Iraq’s prime minister condemned Thursday’s “drone attack” over Erbil

Iraq’s Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, condemned a “drone attack” that violated Erbil’s airspace in the Kurdistan region after several aircraft were shot down, his office said.

Al-Zaidi said security agencies, in coordination with regional forces, have been instructed to take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of these attacks and to protect the security of Iraqi society.

Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran, Iran’s capital

Iranian state media reported that air defense alerts were activated in several areas of Tehran on Thursday morning and that explosions were heard in the north and west of the country.

State agency IRNA reported that, so far, no casualties have been recorded in Tehran. Additional explosions were heard in Lorestan province in the west and in Semnan in the north, according to IRNA and Mehr agency.

(more…)

Iran launched a new wave of missile attacks against Gulf countries that host U.S. military facilities. Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq reported intercepting several projectiles and condemned the Iranian strikes in the early hours of Thursday.

Late Wednesday, the United States carried out another round of strikes on Iranian territory aimed at reducing Tehran’s ability to “threaten innocent mariners operating commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”

The new offensive followed Washington’s confirmation that it had reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports and coasts, and after two commercial vessels were diverted, which the Pentagon said tried to evade U.S. restrictions.

President Donald Trump hardened his stance toward Tehran and warned the military campaign in the Middle East could expand in the coming days if the Iranian regime does not return to the negotiating table. “Next week the situation will be very bad for them,” he said.

Minute-by-minute coverage follows:

Oil prices fall

Oil prices fell in the early hours of Thursday, though they remain elevated amid intensified U.S. strikes on Iran and Iranian missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, declined 0.5% to $84.57 per barrel. At the end of February, before the conflict began, it traded near $72 per barrel. The U.S. benchmark fell 0.2% to $79.43 per barrel.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-fmi-advirtio-que-la-oferta-de-petroleo-tardara-hasta-tres-meses-en-normalizarse-una-vez-que-ormuz-se-reabra-completamente/

Tehran threatened regional infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran

Tehran warned on Thursday that it would strike the regional infrastructure of countries allied with the United States if Washington follows through on threats to attack Iranian facilities.

The spokesperson for Iran’s military headquarters said that if those warnings are carried out, “the entire infrastructure of the region would be crushed under the steel blows of the Iranian armed forces.”

Israel informed the Pentagon it will keep troops in “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza

Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, told his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that the Israeli military will keep its forces in the “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement released Thursday, the two officials spoke overnight and Katz “stressed Israel’s determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon to protect its borders and nearby communities from the threats posed by jihadist forces.”

Fire and smoke seen in Chabahar, Iran, after reports of an explosion

Jordan intercepted eight Iranian missiles overnight

Jordan’s air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight Iranian missiles aimed at the country in the early hours of Thursday, the Jordanian military reported. No casualties or material damage were reported. Engineering teams secured the areas where debris fell, and the armed forces remain on high alert for possible further threats.

Meanwhile, the Iranian military said its drones struck communications systems, fuel depots and a fixed radar station at Al Azraq air base in Jordan, which it identified as a U.S. military facility. The statement, carried by official Iranian media, said the offensive was the ninth phase of “Operation Saeqeh” (Lightning) and was launched in response to recent U.S. attacks on Iran, including a strike on a military barracks in Sistan and Baluchestan province that Tehran says killed seven service members.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-regimen-de-iran-lanzo-ataques-contra-bases-e-instalaciones-militares-de-estados-unidos-en-jordania-kuwait-e-irak/

Iraq’s prime minister condemned Thursday’s “drone attack” over Erbil

Iraq’s prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, condemned a “drone attack” that violated Erbil’s airspace after several unmanned aircraft were shot down, his office said.

Al-Zaidi said security agencies, in coordination with regional forces, have been instructed to take all necessary measures to prevent such attacks from recurring and to protect the safety of Iraqi society.

Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran, the capital

State media in Iran reported that air defense alerts were activated in several areas of Tehran on Thursday morning and explosions were recorded in the north and west of the country.

The state news agency IRNA reported that, so far, no casualties have been recorded in Tehran. Additional explosions were reportedly heard in the western province of Lorestan and in Semnan in the north, according to IRNA and the Mehr news agency.

(more…)

El gobierno iraní lanzó una nueva serie de ataques con misiles contra países del Golfo Pérsico que albergan instalaciones militares de Estados Unidos. Jordania, Kuwait e Irak informaron haber interceptado varios proyectiles y condenaron los bombardeos ocurridos en la madrugada del jueves.

En la última parte del miércoles, Estados Unidos llevó a cabo otra ronda de ataques sobre territorio iraní con el objetivo declarado de reducir la capacidad de Teherán para “amenazar a marineros inocentes y las embarcaciones comerciales que transitan por el estrecho de Ormuz”.

La ofensiva se produjo después de que Washington confirmara la reanudación de un bloqueo naval sobre puertos y costas iraníes y tras el desvío de dos barcos comerciales que, según el Pentágono, intentaron eludir las restricciones impuestas por Estados Unidos.

El presidente Donald Trump endureció su discurso contra Teherán y advirtió que la campaña militar en Oriente Próximo podría ampliarse en los próximos días si Irán no acepta volver a negociar. “La próxima semana la situación será muy mala para ellos”, dijo.

A continuación, la cobertura minuto a minuto:

Bajan los precios del petróleo

Los precios del petróleo cayeron en las primeras horas del jueves, aunque se mantienen en niveles elevados en medio de la escalada de ataques entre Estados Unidos e Irán y de las ofensivas iraníes con misiles y drones contra Kuwait y Baréin.

El crudo Brent, referencia internacional, descendió un 0,5% hasta situarse en 84,57 dólares por barril. A finales de febrero, antes del inicio del conflicto, cotizaba alrededor de 72 dólares por barril. El precio de referencia del crudo estadounidense bajó un 0,2%, hasta 79,43 dólares por barril.

Nota relacionada: El FMI advirtió que la oferta de petróleo tardará hasta tres meses en normalizarse una vez que Ormuz se reabra completamente.

Teherán amenazó la infraestructura regional si Estados Unidos ataca a Irán

Teherán advirtió este jueves que atacaría infraestructuras en la región pertenecientes a países aliados de Estados Unidos si Washington cumple con sus amenazas de atacar instalaciones iraníes.

Un portavoz del comando militar iraní afirmó que, en caso de ataques estadounidenses, “toda la infraestructura de la región sería aplastada por la fuerza de las fuerzas armadas iraníes”, según comunicados oficiales.

Israel le comunicó al Pentágono que mantendrá tropas en “zonas de seguridad” en Líbano, Siria y Gaza

El ministro de Defensa de Israel, Israel Katz, informó a su homólogo estadounidense, Pete Hegseth, que las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel mantendrán efectivos en las “zonas de seguridad” establecidas en Líbano, Siria y la Franja de Gaza.

Según un comunicado difundido este jueves, ambos funcionarios conversaron durante la noche y Katz subrayó la determinación de Israel de permanecer en esas zonas de seguridad para proteger sus fronteras y las comunidades próximas frente a amenazas de grupos yihadistas.

Se observan fuego y humo en Chabahar, Irán, tras informes de una explosión

Jordania interceptó ocho misiles iraníes durante la noche

Los sistemas de defensa aérea de Jordania interceptaron y destruyeron ocho misiles dirigidos al país en la madrugada del jueves, informó el ejército jordano. No se reportaron víctimas ni daños materiales. Equipos de ingenieros aseguraron las zonas donde cayeron los restos y las fuerzas armadas permanecen en máxima alerta ante posibles nuevas amenazas.

Por su parte, el ejército iraní declaró que sus drones atacaron sistemas de comunicación, depósitos de combustible y una estación de radar fija en la base aérea de Al Azraq, en Jordania, identificada por Teherán como una instalación militar estadounidense. El comunicado, divulgado por medios oficiales iraníes, indicó que la acción corresponde a la novena fase de la “Operación Saeqeh” (Relámpago) y se presentó como respuesta a ataques recientes de Estados Unidos contra Irán, incluido un bombardeo en la provincia de Sistán y Baluchistán que, según las autoridades iraníes, causó siete muertos en sus filas.

Nota relacionada: Cobertura sobre los ataques de Irán contra bases e instalaciones militares de Estados Unidos en Jordania, Kuwait e Irak.

El primer ministro de Irak condenó el “ataque con drones” sobre Erbil de este jueves

El primer ministro iraquí, Ali al-Zaidi, condenó un ataque con drones que violó el espacio aéreo de Erbil, en la región del Kurdistán, luego de que varios aparatos fueran derribados, informó su oficina.

Al-Zaidi indicó que se han dado instrucciones a los organismos de seguridad, en coordinación con las fuerzas regionales, para adoptar todas las medidas necesarias que eviten la repetición de estos incidentes y garanticen la protección de la población iraquí.

Medios iraníes reportaron explosiones en Teherán, capital de Irán

Medios estatales de Irán informaron que la mañana del jueves se activaron las señales de defensa antiaérea en varias zonas de Teherán y que se registraron explosiones en el norte y el oeste del país.

La agencia estatal IRNA señaló que, hasta el momento, no se han reportado víctimas en Teherán. Además, se escucharon detonaciones en la provincia occidental de Lorestán y en Semnán, al norte del país, según informaron IRNA y la agencia Mehr.

(more…)

The Iranian regime launched a new wave of missile attacks against Persian Gulf countries that host U.S. military facilities. Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq reported intercepting several projectiles and condemned the Iranian strikes in the early hours of Thursday.

Late Wednesday, the United States carried out another round of strikes on Iranian territory aimed at reducing Tehran’s ability to “threaten innocent mariners aboard commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

The new offensive occurred after Washington confirmed the reinstatement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and coasts, as well as the diversion of two commercial ships that, according to the Pentagon, attempted to evade U.S. restrictions.

President Donald Trump hardened his stance toward Tehran and warned that the military campaign in the Middle East could expand in the coming days if the Iranian regime does not agree to return to the negotiating table. “Next week the situation will be very bad for them,” he said.

Below is minute-by-minute coverage:

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-fmi-advirtio-que-la-oferta-de-petroleo-tardara-hasta-tres-meses-en-normalizarse-una-vez-que-ormuz-se-reabra-completamente/

Tehran threatened regional infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran

Tehran threatened on Thursday to strike the regional infrastructure of countries allied with the United States if Washington carries out its warnings to target Iranian facilities.

A spokesperson for Iran’s military headquarters said that if those warnings are carried out, “the entire infrastructure of the region would be crushed under the steel blows of the Iranian armed forces.”

Israel informed the Pentagon it will keep troops in “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza

Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, informed his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that the Israeli military will keep its forces in the “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement released Thursday, the two officials spoke overnight and Katz “emphasized Israel’s determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon to protect its borders and nearby communities from threats posed by jihadist forces.”

Fire and smoke observed in Chabahar, Iran, after reports of an explosion

Oil prices fall

Oil prices fell on Thursday as traders took profits and assessed the risks linked to a new wave of strikes and counterattacks in the sector. After a four-day rally, Brent crude futures dropped $0.24 (0.28%) to $84.95 per barrel at 04:35 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell $0.15 (0.19%), to $79.45 per barrel.

Brent briefly rose by nearly $1 at the start of the session, and both contracts remained close to their one-month highs.

Jordan intercepted eight Iranian missiles overnight

Jordan’s air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight Iranian missiles aimed at the country in the early hours of Thursday, the Jordanian military said. No casualties or material damage were reported. Engineering teams secured the areas where debris fell, and the armed forces remain on high alert for possible new threats.

Meanwhile, the Iranian military said its drones attacked communications systems, fuel depots and a fixed radar station at Al Azraq airbase in Jordan, identified as a U.S. military base. The statement, released by official Iranian media, said the offensive corresponds to the ninth phase of “Operation Saeqeh” (Lightning) and was launched in response to recent U.S. attacks on Iran, including a strike on a military barracks in Sistan and Baluchestan province that Tehran said killed seven soldiers.

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-regimen-de-iran-lanzo-ataques-contra-bases-e-instalaciones-militares-de-estados-unidos-en-jordania-kuwait-e-irak/

Iraq’s prime minister condemned the “drone attack” over Erbil on Thursday

Iraq’s prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, condemned a “drone attack” that violated Erbil’s airspace in the Kurdistan region after several drones were shot down, his office said.

Al-Zaidi said instructions have been given to security agencies, in coordination with regional forces, to take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of such attacks and to protect the security of Iraqi society.

Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran, Iran’s capital

State media in Iran reported that air defense alerts were activated in several areas of Tehran on Thursday morning and that explosions were heard in the north and west of the country.

The state news agency IRNA reported that, so far, no casualties have been recorded in Tehran. Additional explosions were heard in the western province of Lorestan and in Semnan in the north, IRNA and the Mehr agency said.

(more…)

This week, the armed forces of the United States and South Korea conducted their largest joint military and logistical exercises to date on the Korean Peninsula; the exercises are scheduled to conclude on Thursday.

The Combined Forces Command (CFC) of both countries reported that the Combined Joint Support Training (CJST) took place from July 13 to 16 near Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province and in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province.

The CJST aims to strengthen the two militaries’ ability to sustain operations during contingencies on the peninsula. The drills, which featured a record number of participants and equipment, involved 4,400 personnel—2,400 South Korean and 2,000 U.S.—and the deployment of 600 pieces of equipment, including naval vessels and aircraft, according to the South Korean agency Yonhap.

Exercises included an interoperability check with a simulated joint landing, as well as medical assistance and casualty evacuation drills using South Korean KUH-1M medical helicopters and U.S. C-130 Hercules transport planes.

These drills, conducted regularly since 2017, are part of a series of trainings focused on improving the efficiency of military logistics distribution, covering personnel, fuel and equipment for combat units.

The exercises were held after Seoul said two weeks ago that it was maintaining “close coordination” with the United States following recent projectile launches by the North Korean regime.

Lee Kyung Ho, vice spokesman for South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, said that “South Korea and the United States detected and tracked in real time the multiple projectiles launched by North Korea (…), maintaining close coordination for all contingencies.”

Lee explained that the projectiles were classified as “tactical weapon systems” and said the bilateral information‐sharing and coordination mechanism with the United States “continues to work flawlessly,” according to Yonhap.

“Our Armed Forces maintain a 24‐hour state of alert,” Lee emphasized, urging the public not to question the dedication of the South Korean and U.S. militaries in defending the country and protecting the population.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests that coincided with the 76th anniversary of the Korean War (1950–1953), which involved the use of new artillery systems and missiles. Kim reiterated his intent to instill “fear” and “unease” in “the enemy,” referring to Seoul.

South Korean President Lee Jae‐myung has advocated since June 2025 for a diplomatic approach to Pyongyang, but no formal talks have taken place. The two Koreas remain technically at war, as the 1953 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

North Korea announced last Friday that it will strengthen its nuclear force in both quality and quantity as part of its military modernization. The decision was made during a plenary meeting of the ruling party’s central military commission.

State news agency KCNA reported that the regime agreed “to strengthen the nuclear force in both quality and quantity and to proceed with plans to standardize, specialize and modernize military bases.” The report also said technical infrastructure for combat systems will be upgraded and the construction of “modern naval bases” will be accelerated.

(With reporting from Europa Press)

(more…)

The armed forces of the United States and South Korea conducted this week their largest joint military and logistical exercises to date on the Korean Peninsula; the drills are scheduled to conclude on Thursday.

The Combined Forces Command (CFC) of both countries reported that the Combined Joint Support Training (CJST) took place from July 13 to 16 near Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province and in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province.

The CJST aimed to strengthen both militaries’ ability to sustain operations during contingencies on the peninsula. The record-scale exercises involved 4,400 personnel—2,400 South Korean and 2,000 U.S.—and the deployment of about 600 pieces of equipment, including ships and aircraft, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

The drills included an interoperability check with a simulated joint landing, as well as medical assistance and casualty evacuation exercises using South Korean KUH-1M medevac helicopters and U.S. C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

These exercises, conducted regularly since 2017, are part of training designed to improve the efficiency of military logistical distribution, covering personnel, fuel, and equipment destined for combat units.

The drills follow Seoul’s statement two weeks ago that it is maintaining “close coordination” with the United States after North Korea’s recent projectile launches.

Lee Kyung Ho, deputy spokesperson for South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, said that “South Korea and the United States detected and tracked, in real time, the multiple projectiles launched by North Korea (…) maintaining close coordination for all contingencies.”

Lee added that the projectiles were classified as “tactical weapon systems” and affirmed that the bilateral mechanism for information exchange and coordination with the United States “continues to operate perfectly,” according to Yonhap.

“Our Armed Forces maintain a round-the-clock state of alert,” Lee emphasized, urging confidence in the commitment of South Korean and U.S. forces to the country’s defense and public safety.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the tests, which coincided with the 76th anniversary of the Korean War (1950–1953) and involved the use of new artillery systems and missiles. Kim reiterated an intention to instill “fear” and “unease” in “the enemy,” referring to Seoul.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has advocated since June 2025 for diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang, but no formal talks have taken place so far. The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1953 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

North Korea announced last Friday that it will strengthen its nuclear forces in both quality and quantity as part of its military modernization. The decision was made during a plenary meeting of the ruling party’s central military commission.

State news agency KCNA reported that the regime agreed to “strengthen the nuclear force in both quality and quantity and proceed with plans to standardize, specialize, and modernize military bases.” The report added that the technical infrastructure of combat systems will be modernized and the construction of “modern naval bases” will be accelerated.

(With information from Europa Press)

(more…)

The armed forces of the United States and South Korea carried out this week their largest joint military and logistical exercises to date on the Korean Peninsula; the drills are scheduled to conclude this Thursday.

The two countries’ Combined Forces Command (CFC) reported that the Combined Joint Support Training (CJST) was held from 13 to 16 July near Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province and in Hongcheon County, Gangwon.

The CJST aimed to strengthen both militaries’ ability to sustain operations during a contingency on the peninsula. The exercises featured a record number of participants and equipment, involving about 4,400 personnel — roughly 2,400 South Korean and 2,000 U.S. troops — and the deployment of some 600 pieces of equipment, including naval vessels and aircraft, Yonhap reported.

Activities included an interoperability check through a joint amphibious landing exercise, as well as medical support and casualty evacuation drills using South Korean KUH-1M medevac helicopters and U.S. C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

These exercises, conducted regularly since 2017, are part of ongoing training to improve the efficiency of military logistical distribution, including personnel, fuel and equipment destined for combat units.

The drills followed Seoul’s statement two weeks ago that it is maintaining “close coordination” with the United States after recent projectile launches by the North Korean regime.

Lee Kyung Ho, deputy spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry, said, “South Korea and the United States detected and tracked in real time the multiple projectiles launched by North Korea (…), maintaining close coordination for any contingency.”

Lee added that the projectiles were classified as “tactical weapons systems” and affirmed that the bilateral information-sharing and coordination mechanism with the United States “continues to operate perfectly,” Yonhap reported.

“Our armed forces maintain a constant 24-hour state of readiness,” Lee emphasized, asking that the commitment of South Korean and U.S. forces to the country’s defense and to public safety not be questioned.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests that coincided with the 76th anniversary of the Korean War (1950–1953), involving new artillery and missile systems. Kim reiterated his intent to instill “fear” and “unease” in “the enemy,” a reference to Seoul.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has advocated since June 2025 for diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang, but formal talks have not yet begun. The two Koreas remain technically at war, as the 1953 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Last Friday, North Korea announced a plan to strengthen its nuclear force in both quality and quantity as part of its military modernization. The decision was taken during a plenary meeting of the ruling party’s central military commission.

State news agency KCNA reported that the regime agreed “to strengthen the nuclear force in quality and quantity and to continue standardizing, specializing and modernizing military bases.” The agency added that technical infrastructure for combat systems will be upgraded and construction of “modern naval bases” will be accelerated.

(With information from Europa Press)

(more…)

The armed forces of the United States and South Korea carried out this week their largest joint military and logistical exercises to date on the Korean Peninsula; the drills are scheduled to conclude on Thursday.

The Combined Forces Command (CFC) of both countries reported that the Combined Joint Support Training (CJST) took place from July 13 to 16 near Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province and in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province.

The CJST is intended to strengthen both forces’ ability to sustain military operations during contingencies on the peninsula. The maneuvers, which involved a record number of personnel and equipment, included 4,400 personnel—2,400 South Koreans and 2,000 Americans—and the deployment of about 600 pieces of equipment, including naval vessels and aircraft, Yonhap reported.

During the exercises, participants conducted an interoperability check with a joint landing drill, along with medical support and casualty-evacuation exercises using South Korean KUH-1M medical helicopters and U.S. C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

These exercises, conducted regularly since 2017, are part of training to improve the efficiency of military logistical distribution, covering personnel, fuel and equipment for combat units.

The drills followed Seoul’s statement two weeks ago that it maintains “close coordination” with the United States after North Korea’s most recent projectile launches.

Lee Kyung Ho, deputy spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Defense, said that “South Korea and the United States detected and tracked in real time the multiple projectiles launched by North Korea (…), maintaining close coordination for all contingencies.”

Lee said the projectiles were classified as “tactical weapons” and asserted that the bilateral information-sharing and coordination mechanism with the United States “continues to function perfectly,” according to Yonhap.

“Our armed forces maintain round-the-clock readiness 24 hours a day,” Lee emphasized, asking that the commitment of South Korean and U.S. military personnel to the country’s defense and to public safety not be questioned.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the tests, which coincided with the 76th anniversary of the Korean War (1950–1953), and used new artillery systems and missiles. Kim reiterated his intent to instill “fear” and “unease” in “the enemy,” a reference to Seoul.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has advocated since June 2025 for diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang, but formal talks have not yet begun. The two Koreas remain technically at war, since the 1953 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

North Korea announced last Friday that it will strengthen its nuclear forces in both quality and quantity as part of its military modernization, a decision taken at a plenary meeting of the ruling party’s central military commission.

State news agency KCNA reported that the regime agreed “to strengthen the nuclear force both in quality and quantity and to proceed with a plan to standardize, specialize and modernize military bases.” The report added that technical infrastructure for combat systems will be modernized and the construction of “modern naval bases” will be accelerated.

(With reporting from Europa Press)

(more…)