💥 U.S. STRIKES IRANIAN MARITIME AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: U.S. forces said they destroyed the Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower in Chah Bahar on July 16.
The tower was part of an IRGC maritime surveillance network used for decades to track and target commercial vessels along Iran’s Gulf of Oman coastline and through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S., its destruction degraded the IRGC’s ability to coordinate attacks against civilian crews and protected freedom of navigation for vessels not attempting to violate the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran.
U.S. missile strikes also reportedly targeted six bridges along the Bandar Abbas–Lar axis and near Bandar Khamir. The targets included bridges along the Girveh, Latidan–Kalmatli and Kohourestan–Lar routes, the unfinished Bandar Khamir–Keshar–Bandar Abbas bridge and Maru Village Bridge.
Iranian media reported eight people killed and 20 wounded in the overnight infrastructure strikes. Three missiles reportedly struck the maritime traffic-control tower on the Makran coast at 4:30 a.m., completely destroying the structure after earlier strikes.
A second U.S. strike on Iranshahr Airport damaged electrical installations. Local authorities said reconstruction work was underway.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the next wave of U.S. attacks will be more intense and may target Tehran and other Iranian cities.
🔸 PAKISTAN AND KUWAIT DISCUSS EXPANDED DEFENSE PACT: Pakistan is negotiating a broader defense agreement with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, according to Reuters.
The talks remain in their early stages and could be affected by U.S.-Iran tensions. Kuwait is seeking expanded military cooperation involving aircraft, drones, air-defense systems and other capabilities. Pakistani officials said deploying combat troops is not currently under consideration.
⚠️ IRAN PLACES HEZBOLLAH AND ALLIED GROUPS ON HIGH ALERT: Iran has instructed Hezbollah and other allied groups across the region to remain on heightened alert amid concerns that clashes could intensify at any moment, according to Israel’s i24 News.
🔸 ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN FORCES PROPOSED FOR SOUTHERN LEBANON: Israel-Lebanon negotiations in Rome regarding IDF withdrawal zones include a proposal to deploy Italian forces to supervise the disarmament of Hezbollah-held areas, according to Ynet.
The “Italian proposal” emerged following strong Israeli and American opposition to using UNIFIL to oversee the withdrawal and disarmament process. Security sources said the framework is being examined by the relevant parties.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul separately proposed replacing the expiring UNIFIL peacekeeping mission with an EU-mandated force to prevent a security vacuum and ensure Hezbollah cannot return to areas vacated by the IDF, according to The Jerusalem Post.
UNIFIL’s mandate is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026, while Germany’s parliament recently approved its final extension of German participation. Wadephul said an EU force could create the security conditions required for a complete Israeli military withdrawal while securing Lebanon’s borders.
The proposal followed the sixth round of ambassador-level Israel-Lebanon peace talks in Rome aimed at resolving the war that began on March 2. Wadephul described Lebanon’s stabilizing government as one of the region’s most hopeful developments.
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