Iran-US strikes: 50 dead, 500 injured as Gulf escalation enters 7th night
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
At least 50 people have been killed and 500 others injured in Iran since the start of the latest round of US military strikes in the Gulf, according to Tehran's Health Ministry. The toll, confirmed on 18 July, marks one of the deadliest phases of the ongoing Iran-US confrontation in the region.
Casualty Figures and Health Ministry Statement
Hossein Kermanpur, spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry, reported the figures, specifying that 12 civilians were killed in the last 24 hours alone. He added that 460 of the injured have since been discharged from hospital, while 37 remain hospitalised. Iran's state media separately reported that three people were killed and eight injured in the most recent round of strikes.
Seventh Consecutive Night of US Strikes
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed late on Friday that American forces had completed the seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, targeting surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities. In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM stated: 'More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.'
Iran's Supreme Leader Denounces US
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday declared the US president's signature 'worthless', asserting that repeated violations of a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries' presidents had made this evident to all. The remarks were carried by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) news agency Sepah.
IRGC Strikes Regional US Bases, Warns Host Nations
The IRGC said it targeted the US naval fuel support pier at Al Ahmadi Port in Kuwait and the US combat aircraft site at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. It also warned that countries hosting US forces should expect 'corresponding responses' if their territory is used for attacks on Iran, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Regional Fallout: Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait
Jordan's air defence systems downed Iranian missiles, while Bahrain intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks. In Kuwait, a fire broke out at a power and water desalination plant following an Iranian strike, according to local media reports. The spreading theatre of conflict signals a significant widening of the confrontation beyond Iran's borders, drawing multiple Gulf states into an increasingly volatile standoff.