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En 1609, el sultán Ahmed I inició personalmente los trabajos de lo que sería la obra más ambiciosa de su reinado. Tenía 19 años y gobernaba un imperio con problemas económicos y militares. Aunque la tradición exigía financiar grandes mezquitas con botines de guerra, Ahmed no contaba con esos recursos; aun así, quería erigir en Estambul un templo capaz de competir con la venerada Santa Sofía y dejar una huella perdurable en el paisaje urbano. De ese empeño nació la Mezquita del Sultán Ahmed, conocida mundialmente como la Mezquita Azul.

El proyecto se lanzó en un momento delicado para el Imperio Otomano: tras años de conflictos y tras el tratado de paz de 1606, muchas voces en la corte consideraron que el imperio había salido debilitado. Aun así, Ahmed decidió financiar la obra con fondos del tesoro público, una decisión que generó resistencia entre los ulemas, los juristas islámicos, que llegaron a desaconsejar rezar en la mezquita.

Un trono heredado en crisis

Ahmed I subió al trono a los 13 años, tras la muerte de su padre Mehmed III, cuya sucesión se marcó por ejecuciones dinásticas. Heredó un vasto territorio que se extendía por tres continentes, pero también una maquinaria estatal golpeada por las guerras y la escasez de recursos. La reciente Guerra Larga Turca y el tratado que la cerró habían dejado un sentimiento de humillación en algunos sectores, y las crónicas contemporáneas registraron críticas por la aparente temeridad de emprender una obra de tal magnitud en esas condiciones.

A pesar de las objeciones, Ahmed ordenó la expropiación de varias residencias de visires en la península de Fatih, entre ellas la que pertenecía a Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, y cedió ese terreno para la nueva construcción, ubicada frente a Santa Sofía y sobre los restos del antiguo hipódromo de Constantinopla.

La guerra arquitectónica contra Santa Sofía

El responsable del diseño fue Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, alumno del eminente Mimar Sinan y autor de una obra que fusionó referentes otomanos y bizantinos. La ubicación de la mezquita, deliberadamente frente a Santa Sofía, buscaba rivalizar con la cúpula bizantina que había definido el perfil de la ciudad durante siglos. El proyecto combinó una sala de oración con una cúpula central apoyada en semicúpulas y un amplio patio con fuente para las abluciones.

El interior fue recubierto con más de 20.000 azulejos de Iznik en tonos azules y turquesa, lo que dio origen al nombre popular de Mezquita Azul. Un gran número de ventanas —alrededor de 260, muchas con vidrieras— proporcionaban una iluminación uniforme que realzaba la sensación espacial.

Uno de los aspectos más discutidos del diseño fue la presencia de seis minaretes, cuando la práctica habitual de las mezquitas imperiales solía limitarse a cuatro. Ese detalle provocó rumores sobre la presunta arrogancia del sultán y su comparación con la Gran Mezquita de La Meca. Según la tradición, para calmar las críticas se habría añadido un séptimo minarete a la mezquita de La Meca.

Un legado construido sobre clemencia y ruina

La mezquita se integró en un conjunto mayor, o külliye, que incluía una madrasa, un comedor para necesitados, un hospital, un hospicio y comercios en el bazar Arasta. Ese complejo no solo satisfacía fines religiosos y sociales, sino que también generaba ingresos a través de los alquileres comerciales para sostener el mantenimiento del conjunto. La demanda de azulejos de Iznik fue tan intensa que sobrecargó los talleres y contribuyó al declive gradual de esa industria cerámica en el siglo XVIII.

Ahmed I falleció de tifus el 22 de noviembre de 1617, a los 27 años, poco después de que la obra principal concluyera. Algunos registros contables finales llevaron la firma de su sucesor, Mustafa I, lo que sugiere que el sultán no presenció por completo la finalización del proyecto.

En lo político, Ahmed introdujo un cambio significativo al no ordenar la ejecución de su hermanastro pequeño al asumir el trono; en lugar de ello, los príncipes quedaron confinados en el llamado kafes, la “jaula” del harén en el Palacio de Topkapi. Ese confinamiento limitó la experiencia administrativa y militar de futuros sultanes, una circunstancia que algunos historiadores consideran factor en el progresivo debilitamiento del gobierno imperial en los siglos siguientes.

Tras una restauración integral de seis años, la Mezquita del Sultán Ahmed reabrió en 2023. En 2025 recibió la visita del papa León XIV, que se convirtió en el tercer pontífice en visitar el lugar. Hoy, sus seis minaretes siguen dominando la Punta del Serrallo, en una de las colinas históricas de Estambul.

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke by phone on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the conversation they addressed the critical condition of Ukraine’s air defenses, the urgent need for interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, and the war’s effects on international markets.

The call occurred amid an escalation of attacks on both fronts of the conflict, as Ukraine seeks to bolster its defensive capabilities while Russia continues to apply military and economic pressure.

“I received a good phone call from the U.S. vice president, JD Vance. We discussed our recent meeting with President Trump in Washington, which was positive and productive,” Zelensky said in his statement.

Zelensky emphasized to Vance that obtaining Patriot interceptor missiles remains a “priority” for his country, especially given the shortage of this weaponry that is essential to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes.

At their last meeting in Washington, Trump reportedly told Zelensky that Ukraine had been granted permission to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles in cooperation with the U.S. company Raytheon, consistent with what the U.S. president announced at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.

However, Trump told the press he was not certain he would ultimately allow Ukraine to produce this strategic weapon.

“You have to be very cautious, but also very careful. We have not reached an agreement on this. We’re considering it, but it is difficult to hand over that kind of technology. And I don’t think this will happen. There are people who receive that technology who could one day turn against you,” the U.S. president warned when asked about the future of military cooperation with Kyiv.

During the call, Zelensky also raised with Vance the economic consequences of the war for global markets, particularly the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels.

Russian strikes have almost completely blocked access to Ukrainian ports, while Kyiv has responded with strikes on ports controlled by Russia in the Sea of Azov. The U.S. government has urged Ukraine to avoid such attacks in an effort to prevent further escalation and reduce risks to international trade.

At the end of the call, Zelensky said the two governments would keep close contact to advance the agreements discussed.

While diplomacy seeks new avenues to secure Ukraine’s defense, fighting continues on the ground. A drone attack on Friday caused a fire at an energy facility and at Wildberries warehouses—the leading online retailer in the Volgograd region of Russia—leaving at least five people injured.

Regional governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed the injured received medical care, and in neighboring Rostov a woman was also wounded in a separate drone attack. Meanwhile, the Ryazan refinery halted crude processing after a Ukrainian strike; the company expects the stoppage to last at least two weeks, which could affect the national supply of petroleum products.

Amid the hostilities, Zelensky stated that Russia has recorded around 1.6 million casualties since the start of the war, including about 700,000 deaths, while Ukraine has acknowledged roughly 50,000 soldiers killed and about 400,000 wounded.

(With information from EFE)

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke by phone on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They discussed the critical state of Ukraine’s air defenses, the urgent need for interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, and the war’s effects on international markets.

The call took place amid an escalation of attacks on multiple fronts, as Ukraine seeks to strengthen its defenses while Russia maintains military and economic pressure.

“I had a good phone call with the U.S. vice president, JD Vance. We discussed our recent meeting with President Trump in Washington, which was positive and productive,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky emphasized to Vance that receiving Patriot interceptor missiles remains a priority for Ukraine, given the current shortfall of this critical equipment needed to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.

At the recent Washington meeting, Trump reportedly indicated that Ukraine was allowed to produce Patriot interceptor missiles in cooperation with U.S. firm Raytheon, echoing his statement at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.

However, Trump told reporters he was not certain he would authorize Ukraine to produce this strategic weaponry.

“One must be very cautious and careful. We have not reached a decision on this. We are considering it, but it is difficult to relinquish that kind of technology. I do not think this will happen. There are people who receive such technology and could one day turn against you,” the U.S. president warned when asked about future military cooperation with Kyiv.

During the call, Zelensky also raised the economic consequences of the war for global markets, highlighting the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels.

Russian strikes have largely blocked access to Ukrainian ports, while Kiev has responded with strikes on ports controlled by Russia in the Sea of Azov. The U.S. government has urged Ukraine to avoid such attacks in an effort to prevent further escalation and reduce risks to international trade.

At the end of the call, Zelensky said both governments would maintain close contact to advance the agreements discussed.

On the ground, the conflict continues. A drone attack on Friday caused fires at an energy facility and at warehouses belonging to Wildberries, the region’s largest online retailer, in Volgograd, injuring at least five people.

Regional governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed the injured received medical attention, and in nearby Rostov a woman was also wounded in another drone strike. Separately, the Ryazan refinery halted crude processing after a Ukrainian attack; the company expects the outage to last at least two weeks, which could affect national fuel supplies.

Amid the hostilities, Zelensky stated that Russia has sustained around 1.6 million casualties since the start of the war, including roughly 700,000 deaths, while Ukraine has reported about 50,000 soldiers killed and approximately 400,000 wounded.

(Based on reporting from EFE)

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Iraqi authorities announced a full suspension of crude loading at the country’s southern terminals after a drone struck a tanker at the Basra terminal. Four oil and security sources cited by Reuters said there were no fires or confirmed material damage, but operations were halted as a precaution.

The affected terminals are in southern Iraq. So far, the attacker has not been identified. As a safety measure, the struck tanker was towed out of the port along with another vessel that was anchored nearby.

Drone attacks in strategic areas of Iraq

On Wednesday, another drone reportedly fell at the port of Faw without causing damage, according to the state news agency; port operations there were not affected.

Iraq typically exports about 3.6 million barrels of oil per day. Before tensions with Iran, roughly 3.4 million barrels per day were shipped through the southern terminals, mainly from Basra.

Separately, officials reported that eight drones were intercepted while attempting to attack the U.S. consulate and a coalition base at Erbil airport in the Kurdistan region. The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service said the incidents occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday morning; coalition forces shot the drones down before they reached their targets and there were no casualties.

Official reactions and political context

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi strongly condemned the attempted attacks, which coincided with his first official visit to Washington since taking office in May. During the visit, al-Zaidi aims to present his plan to disarm Iran-aligned Shia militias in Iraq—groups the United States has previously designated as terrorist organizations and which have been blamed for similar incidents.

In a post on X, the prime minister said he had ordered security forces to take “all necessary efforts” to prevent a recurrence of such attacks and to remove those who threaten security, adding that the assaults seek to undermine stability and the state-building process.

Bahaa al-Araji, leader of the Reconstruction and Development parliamentary bloc and a principal political backer of al-Zaidi, said on the same social platform that the attack on Erbil sends “negative” and unacceptable political signals and comes at a sensitive time that benefits no one.

The attempt on Erbil occurs amid the prime minister’s campaign to disarm Iran-aligned Shia militias. In recent years, similar strikes have targeted oil fields and facilities run by U.S. companies in the Kurdistan region.

Additionally, the impact of a drone of unknown origin at the Grand Faw port—a megaproject at Iraq’s southern tip—adds to a recent series of drone incidents at strategic facilities across the country.

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Iran’s regime launched a new wave of missile attacks against Persian Gulf countries hosting 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 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

The new offensive followed Washington’s confirmation of 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 the restrictions imposed by the United States.

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:

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/irak-suspendio-la-carga-de-crudo-en-las-terminales-de-basora-tras-el-impacto-de-un-drone-contra-un-petrolero/

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/jd-vance-afirmo-que-eeuu-avanza-en-la-direccion-correcta-con-iran-y-sostuvo-que-una-solucion-duradera-requiere-un-acuerdo/

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-regimen-de-iran-amenazo-con-atacar-toda-la-infraestructura-de-la-region-si-estados-unidos-cumple-la-advertencia-de-trump/

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

Pakistan said on Thursday that 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 the 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, told reporters in Islamabad.

“We expressed our hope that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will normalize soon and emphasized 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. strikes against Iran and Iranian missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.5% to $84.57 a barrel. In late February, before the outbreak of the conflict, it traded near $72 a barrel. The U.S. benchmark fell 0.2% to $79.43 a 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 U.S.-allied countries if Washington carries out its threats 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 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 maintain its forces in “security zones” established within 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 army 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 new threats.

For its part, the Iranian army 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 garrison 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 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 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 happening again 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 reported.

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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, and after two commercial ships were diverted, which the Pentagon said had attempted to evade U.S.-imposed restrictions.

President Donald Trump toughened 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:

/america/world/2026/07/16/iraq-suspended-oil-loading-at-basra-terminals-after-drone-hit-on-oil-tanker/

/america/world/2026/07/16/jd-vance-said-the-us-is-moving-in-the-right-direction-with-iran-and-stated-that-a-lasting-solution-requires-an-agreement/

/america/world/2026/07/16/the-iranian-regime-threatened-to-attack-all-regional-infrastructure-if-the-us-follows-trumps-warning/

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

Pakistan announced on Thursday that 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 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 MoU,” Tahir Andrabi, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, told reporters in Islamabad.

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

Oil prices fall

Oil prices declined in the early hours of Thursday, though they remain elevated amid intensified 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 a barrel. In late February, before the conflict began, it was trading near $72 per barrel. The U.S. benchmark slipped 0.2% to $79.43 a barrel.

/america/world/2026/07/16/imf-warned-that-oil-supply-will-take-up-to-three-months-to-normalize-once-hormuz-reopens-completely/

Tehran threatened regional infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran

Tehran warned on Thursday that it would strike regional infrastructure in countries allied with the United States if Washington follows through on its threats to attack 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 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 forces in the designated “security zones” within 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 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. There were no casualties or material damage reported. Engineering teams secured areas where debris fell, and the armed forces remain on high alert for possible further threats.

The Iranian military, meanwhile, said its drones struck communications systems, fuel depots and a fixed radar station at Al Azraq airbase in Jordan, which Iran identified as a U.S. military facility. State media quoted a military statement saying the attack was part of the ninth phase of “Operation Saeqeh” (Lightning) and was launched in response to recent U.S. strikes on Iran, including a bombing of a military barracks in Sistan and Baluchestan province that Tehran says killed seven service members.

/america/world/2026/07/16/the-iranian-regime-launched-attacks-on-us-bases-and-military-facilities-in-jordan-kuwait-and-iraq/

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 reported.

Al-Zaidi said security agencies, in coordination with regional forces, have been instructed to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such attacks 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 on Thursday morning in several areas of Tehran and that explosions were heard in the north and west of the city.

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

(more…)

Iran’s 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 a new 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, and after two commercial vessels were diverted, which the Pentagon said had attempted to evade the restrictions imposed by the United States.

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/irak-suspendio-la-carga-de-crudo-en-las-terminales-de-basora-tras-el-impacto-de-un-drone-contra-un-petrolero/

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/jd-vance-afirmo-que-eeuu-avanza-en-la-direccion-correcta-con-iran-y-sostuvo-que-una-solucion-duradera-requiere-un-acuerdo/

/america/mundo/2026/07/16/el-regimen-de-iran-amenazo-con-atacar-toda-la-infraestructura-de-la-region-si-estados-unidos-cumple-la-advertencia-de-trump/

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

Pakistan announced on Thursday that 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 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, spokesperson 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 emphasized the importance of ensuring the security and freedom of maritime navigation,” he added.

Oil prices fall

Oil prices declined in the early hours of Thursday, though they remained elevated amid intensifying 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 start of the conflict, 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 carries out its threats to attack Iranian facilities.

The spokesman for Iran’s military operational headquarters said that, if those threats materialize, “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, told his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that the Israel Defense Forces will maintain their presence in the “security zones” established inside Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement released on 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

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 on high alert for possible new threats.

The Iranian military, for its part, said 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 Iranian state 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 said 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 said.

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

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, according to IRNA and the Mehr news agency.

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