13/07/2026

MONDAY | JULY 13, 2026

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US strikes Iran, Tehran hits Gulf states

board, 10 have been rescued so far, while one Indian National is reportedly missing,” the ministry said, while condemning the attack. Tehran’s strikes marked a sharp escalation in pace and targets, after it had warned that any retaliation over the container ship incident would be met with a “severe response”. In recent weeks, Iran had hit Kuwait and Bahrain while avoiding Qatar since early April and the UAE since early May. Yesterday’s attack on Qatar targeted a state whose mediation efforts have been central to attempts to broker a ceasefire between the US and Iran – and Doha has previously said it would not act as a mediator so long as it was under attack. – Reuters

UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority later said that missile threats detected earlier in the day were outside the country’s borders. Three missiles from Iranian territory landed in Jordan early yesterday, causing minor material damage and no casualties, Jordan’s state news agency reported. Sites in Oman’s Musandam region were targeted with drones, its state news agency reported, without saying if there were casualties. One Indian national is missing after an attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman earlier yesterday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said. “Of the 11 Indian nationals on

Iranian state media reported explosions in a number of port cities. In response, the Guards said they had destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars in Jordan, targeted a US radar site in Kuwait, attacked US aircraft carrier support and refuelling platforms in Oman and destroyed a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar. Qatar’s government said three people, including a child, had been injured by falling shrapnel from the attack. The United Arab Emirates said its defence systems engaged missiles and drones from Iran, while warning sirens sounded in Bahrain and explosions were heard in Doha. The

attacks on commercial ships in the area. Iran said it had closed the strait after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel travelling on an unapproved route and said yesterday it had disabled a second vessel. The strait will remain closed until “the end of US interference in this region”, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said. US Central Command (Centcom), however, said commercial vessels continue to transit through the waterway. Centcom said US forces hit 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday, out of more than 300 during three nights of strikes “to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels”.

DUBAI: US and Iranian forces exchanged heavy missile and drone assaults with Tehran targeting US facilities in states across the Gulf yesterday and saying it had again closed the vital Strait of Hormuz. A series of attacks over the past several days led President Donald Trump to declare the end of a ceasefire meant to halt the fighting that the US and Israel began on Feb 28, although Trump has left the door open to continued negotiations. The escalation followed several o Ships using Hormuz Strait despite closure

Senator Graham dies after illness WASHINGTON: US Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Republican who went from a vocal critic of Donald Trump to one of his most loyal allies on Capitol Hill, has died at age 71.

The South Carolina lawmaker died after a “brief and sudden illness”, his office posted on X yesterday. Media said emergency personnel had responded to a call for cardiac arrest at his Capitol Hill home on Saturday night. Trump called Graham “one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known” and a hard-working patriot. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “deeply saddened”, calling Graham “a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer”. A defence hawk, Graham “consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests,” his website said. He was a prominent supporter of Israel and Ukraine and an opponent of Iran. During the 2016 campaign, in which Graham was among many Republicans who lost the presidential nomination to Trump, he posted on social media: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed ... and we will deserve it.” Graham told CNN in 2015 that Trump was “a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot”, adding, “He doesn’t represent my party. He doesn’t represent the values that the men and women who wear the uniform are fighting for.” Later, after becoming a loyal supporter and frequent golf partner, Graham still publicly disagreed with Trump’s decision upon returning to office last year to pardon about urged the group including Stanislas Verdonckt to shelter in place. The Andalusian regional government and the Spanish Civil Guard police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In total, 12 people – mainly foreigners like Stanislas Verdonckt and one Spaniard – died trying to escape the wildfires as they reached Bedar. Their identities have not been officially confirmed.

1,500 of the president’s supporters who attacked the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, saying it could lead to more violence. “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. On Friday, Graham said China could play a decisive role in pressuring Russia towards peace talks, helping end its war in Ukraine. Graham met Zelensky in Kyiv. They discussed Ukraine’s air defence needs and a Russian sanctions Bill. A former Air Force lawyer and member of the South Carolina Air National Guard, Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002. Before that, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 for South Carolina’s 3rd congressional district. He was not married. – Reuters Graham was a prominent supporter of Israel and Ukraine. – REUTERSFILEPIC A group of neighbours including his father first tried to drive away on Thursday night by a paved road but they were beaten back by flames, Verdonckt said. “They couldn’t get through via the main road because they were not warned in advance. Nobody told them that the fire was coming from that direction, and when they tried to get out, it was too late,” he said. – Reuters

Police officers and emergency workers at the site of the shooting in Toronto on Saturday. – REUTERSPIC Two killed, four hurt in Toronto shooting

TORONTO: Two people were killed and at least four others seriously wounded in a shooting at a salsa festival here on Saturday. Investigators said “there was an exchange of gunfire between two individuals and two firearms were recovered.” They emphasised the danger the apparent settling of scores could have posed to the more than 13,000 people attending the music festival. “Two males have been pronounced dead” and “another four individuals have been admitted to local hospitals with serious injuries,” said Toronto deputy police chief Frank Barredo. Police had initially referred to an

she was “deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless and irresponsible act of violence right in the middle of a festival attended by families, children and seniors.” Jason Ferda, who was attending the festival, said he initially thought it was “fireworks”. “I was scared, I left,” he said. Another witness told broadcaster CTV News that a state of panic washed over the crowd. “Suddenly, everybody was running towards the stage, and everyone was like what’s going on and the police came and they stopped the music,”the bystander said. “Everything happened so fast.” – AFP

“active shooter”, but “that does not appear to be the case”, Barredo said. Asked about the perpetrators, he did “not rule out” that more people could have been involved than the two mentioned. “There have been no arrests at this time,” Barredo said. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was“horrified by the shooting that has killed two people at the Salsa on St Clair Festival in Toronto.” “My prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones,” he said. Carney also expressed his thanks “to the police officers and other first responders whose courage and fast action prevented further tragedy.” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said

Son of wildfire victim disputes official account of warning provided LOS GALLARDOS: The son of a Belgian man who died in a Spanish wildfire disputed authorities’ claims that his father and other victims ignored official advice to shelter in place, saying the emergency services gave them no guidance. village of Bedar in Almeria province. Stanislas Verdonckt was among eight victims found dead in a valley below the Paraje el Curato area where he lived on the outskirts of Bedar, according to his 33-year-old son. Verdonckt, who lives in Belgium, travelled to Spain after the fire and spoke with surviving neighbours. home than flee, Verdonckt said. “The people who died did not fail to follow any orders because no orders were given,” he said. “They only started to run when the flames were almost upon them. That was their absolute last resort.”

Authorities have said local officials and police went door-to-door or telephoned residents with instructions. Bedar Mayor Angel Collado said he

Belgian virologist Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt said he spoke to his father, 63-year-old businessman Stanislas Verdonckt, by phone on Thursday evening as the fire advanced on the

No officials told the group that the fire was heading their way or that it would be safer for them to stay at