Happy Friday, everyone! But …. sigh. Well, so much for peace breaking out…. Let’s dive in.
Iran War Update
The frustration of the US is evident and mounting. I am edging closer to believing that the US never intended to broker an honest peace deal and has been seeking to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and to continue escalating.
Of course, that will be a disaster in the near term for the global economy, and for the human population over the longer term as key fertilizer components go missing and future harvests slip and disappoint.
The US struck power lines and bridges last night:
🚨🇮🇷 Iran is begging citizens to turn off their AC as U.S. strikes knock out power across the sweltering south…-Iran's Energy Ministry is urging people nationwide to limit air conditioning to stabilize electricity for the south, after strikes damaged power lines feeding… pic.twitter.com/RdCQXgKPSK
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 17, 2026
🇺🇸🇮🇷 Iran's infrastructure was hit HARD overnight, as a result of U.S. "shaping operations" intended to cut off IRGC logistics.A list of targets hit:• 5-6 bridges in Hormozgan province • Chabahar maritime tower was targeted (again) and destroyed• A…
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 17, 2026
In response, Iran successfully struck US military bases in Bahrain, Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait:
BREAKING: Iran has reportedly struck the BAPCO oil refinery in Bahrain while launching missile and drone attacks against U.S. military assets in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iraq. Iranian drones also reportedly destroyed a $5 million U.S. HIMARS launcher in Kuwait, marking… pic.twitter.com/aeyocyEp6Y
— The Hormuz Report (@HormuzReport) July 17, 2026
🇮🇷🇺🇸 Satellite imagery shows that the IRGC struck US assets in the region with precision strikes▫️ US base in Erbil Airport, Iraq▫️ Zayed Military City, UAE The "Patriot" air defense system was destroyed at the US base in Erbil Airport, while three hardened storage… pic.twitter.com/JDtK7ece28
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) July 17, 2026
IRAN LAUNCHES MASSIVE ATTACK ON U.S. NAVYBahrain has been subjected to the most intense rocket attack since the beginning of the conflict. U.S. air defense systems failed to intercept the attack. At least three Iranian missiles directly hit the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's… pic.twitter.com/RhMS4CShqv
— 𝕊𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕻𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 (@SprinterPress) July 17, 2026
It looks like the BAPCO refinery has been targeted and struck. So Gulf energy infrastructure is now included. The escalation has occurred.:
Plumes of smoke reportedly seen rising from BAPCO oil refinery in Bahrain, following an Iranian missile/drone impact. pic.twitter.com/K47eHjptYZ
— Energy Headline News (@OilHeadlineNews) July 17, 2026
Let’s check in on the ““markets”” … oh dear.
Oh, and Qatar too:
BREAKING: Iran has launched extensive attacks on Qatar with at least 3-4 impacts in Doha minutes ago, with initial reports of impact on the US Al Udeid Air Base.Simultaneous Iranian retaliation is ongoing across Gulf countries with explosions heard in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,…
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) July 17, 2026
Cluster warheads over Bahrain on July 13th:
🚨#BREAKING: The skies over Bahrain lit up as Iranian cluster missiles were reportedly seen heading toward U.S. targets.#Bahrain #Iran #US #BreakingNews https://t.co/meYA0xxl28 pic.twitter.com/rBMXuRlNfj
— The Globe & News (@TheGlobeNewt) July 14, 2026
Kuwait claims a key desalination and power plant was damaged last night:
Kuwait says that one of the country's power and water desalinations plans suffered "severe damage" after an Iranian attack.
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) July 17, 2026
Iran has issued a warning that it will next strike key ports in the Gulf that are used by the US:
BREAKING: ACCORDING TO FARS NEWS IRAN IS GOING TO STRIKE VITAL PORTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST USED BY THE US MILITARY The List:♦️ Jebel Ali Port (UAE): ♦️ King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu (Saudi Arabia)♦️ Hamad Port (Qatar)♦️ Mina Salman Port (Bahrain)♦️ Shu'aybah Port… pic.twitter.com/3bvq09ipjK
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) July 17, 2026
Reportedly, the UAE has now directly entered the conflict:
BREAKING: The UAE has reportedly entered the war against Iran directly, launching Yabhon Loitering kamikaze drone at Bandar Abbas in its first known use of the weapon in the conflict, per Iranian media.A major Iranian escalation is now increasingly likely. Iran's IRGC has… pic.twitter.com/XYEJnRVEXC
— The Hormuz Report (@HormuzReport) July 16, 2026
Summary: The US has decided to escalate and Iran has decided to respond in kind. If this goes any further with more attacks on Gulf energy assets, we should all lurch our preparation time tables forward and
by larrythelogger 
