West Asia war LIVE: Iran Army says war to ‘expand further’ if U.S. attacks restart

Iran’s Army warned on Sunday (July 26, 2026) that the war in West Asia would widen if the United States chose to press ahead with attacks on the Islamic republic, ahead of the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.The U.S.

military has paused its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing, while diplomatic efforts have pushed forward to try to avert a return to all-out war. Regional officials involved in the mediation efforts said that concerted diplomacy was under way and that a pause in U.S.

strikes and Iranian counterstrikes on neighbouring countries hosting American forces was a “positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate.” The U.S.

naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect, the U.S. Central Command said early Sunday (July 26, 2026).

Also Read | Pickaxe Mountain | Iran’s natural fortressDespite the lull in fighting, tensions are high in the region. Yemen’s Houthi rebels said on Saturday (July 25, 2026) that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida. The Iran-backed rebels say they have closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has become even more vital for Saudi oil exports since the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.

Watch | Iran is prepared for U.S. ground invasion: Mohammad MarandiFollow LIVE updates here: Iran and the United States held their fire, handing Gulf shipping and the oil industry a respite from missile strikes as Donald Trump’s UN envoy said the President was “giving talks some space”.

Iran said it had halted retaliatory attacks against Washington’s allies in West Asia, and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told “ Fox News Sunday” that, while forces remained “locked and loaded”, Trump would give negotiations “a little bit of room”.

AFP Iran said on Sunday (July 26) it has halted retaliatory attacks against U.S. allies in West Asia after Washington stopped its strikes on the country for the past two nights.

The Iranian declaration came after Washington paused a war nearing its fifth month and reports emerged that concerns over dwindling munitions were restraining plans for further escalation.“These attacks continued until two nights ago, but over the past two nights the Americans have stopped their attacks,” said army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia.“Since...

our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations.”-AFP Lebanon’s Army on Sunday (July 26) condemned ongoing Israeli military activities in the country’s south that it said were preventing its full deployment under a framework deal reached with Israel last month.“Israeli occupation forces continue their attacks and violations of current understandings and of international laws through the systematic destruction and bulldozing of homes, bombardment and sweeps with automatic weapons in several southern areas,” an Army statement said, adding that “the continuation of these attacks obstructs the army’s full deployment according to current agreements and prevents the return of residents to their villages and towns”.

-AFP Iran said on Sunday (July 26, 2026) it has halted retaliatory attacks in the region after the United States stopped its strikes on the country for the past two nights.“These attacks continued until two nights ago, but over the past two nights the Americans have stopped their attacks,” said army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia. “Since...

our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations.”- AFP Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday (July 26, 2026) said they downed a Saudi drone over the northwest of Yemen, a day after the Yemeni group claimed it attacked oil facilities in the Gulf kingdom.The Houthi’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group “successfully shot down a Turkish-made...

armed reconnaissance drone belonging to the Saudi enemy while it was conducting hostile operations”.- AFP Iran’s army warned on Sunday (July 26, 2026) that the war in the West Asia would widen if the United States chose to press ahead with attacks on the Islamic republic, ahead of the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.“I believe that if the Americans once again fall for the Zionists’ deception, or move in line with them, and insist on continuing the war, particularly through air strikes, geographically this will expand further,” army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia told state television.

- AFP Iran said on Sunday (July 26) it had made progress in talks with Oman on management of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway crucial for oil and gas trade that both countries border.The latest talks come after the United States resumed attacks on Iran in an effort to end Tehran’s control of the strait, following a June memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war that had briefly eased tensions.- AFP Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they struck Saudi Aramco sites in Jizan