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Iran attacks US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait
Iran’s military said on Friday that it carried out attacks targeting US military assets in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait in retaliation for Washington’s latest strikes on the Islamic republic.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, meanwhile, said they had targeted a data centre in Bahrain belonging to Amazon, according to state media, though neither the US tech giant nor Bahrain have commented on the claim.
There was also no confirmation from the US of any targeting of its facilities or personnel.
“This morning, the fuel tanks, large equipment warehouses and silos, and the barracks of the US terrorist army forces at the Isa Air Base in Bahrain were targeted by Arash kamikaze drones,” the Iranian army said in a statement carried by state TV.
An AFP journalist in Bahrain reported an explosion and warning sirens Friday, though it was not immediately clear if the two events were linked.
Bahrain later said it intercepted and destroyed “a number of Iranian aerial aggressions”, accusing Tehran of targeting civilians.
The Iranian army also claimed drone attacks against Jordan, targeting “aircraft hangars, aviation maintenance hangars and a barracks” at Al-Azraq base.
Jordan’s military said it intercepted seven missiles and six drones launched by Iran on Friday, adding the operation “resulted in no casualties or material damage”.
In a separate statement, the Iranian army said it had also launched drones at US equipment warehouses at Camp Udairi and the site of American military personnel at Camp Doha and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.
Iran’s Guards, the ideological arm of the military, said they had targeted the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, claiming to have destroyed an ammunition depot and inflicted casualties among US personnel.
They also claimed attacks on equipment storage silos at Camp Udairi in Kuwait, as well as a US Fifth Fleet watchtower in Bahrain.
Tehran argues that any facility or base in the Middle East that the US military uses for strikes on Iran is considered a legitimate target for retaliation.
The head of its Khatam al-Anbiya central military command, Ali Abdollahi, threatened US military personnel in the region on Friday, saying Iran had “prepared free, one-way tickets to hell for you”.
“For every proud citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran who is martyred, one American service member will be sent to hell,” he was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster.
Karachi receives season’s first monsoon showers, light to moderate rain reported in parts of city
The metropolis received the first spell of monsoon showers on Friday after multiple localities reported light to moderate rain.
According to Dawn News, Azizabad, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Sharea Faisal, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan-i-Maymar, Ancholi, Manghopir, Surjani Town, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Super Highway, Ahsanabad and Nazimabad experienced rain.
It added that Site Area, Rizvia, Golimar, Liaquatabad, Orangi Town, Benaras, Ibrahim Hyderi, Clifton, DHA, Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Model Town and other neighbourhoods also received rain.
Meanwhile, Karachi traffic police had warned the citizens to keep their vehicles at slow speed as the rain has caused the roads to become “slippery”.
“The public is requested to keep their vehicles at a slow speed. Motorcycle riders are requested to use the left side of the road, keep their vehicles slow during travel, exercise caution while travelling, and avoid unnecessary travel,” it said in a statement.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast cloudy weather with light rain in Karachi during the next three to four days.
Earlier in the day, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and district administrations across Sindh to remain on high alert.
He further directed all relevant departments to take precautionary and emergency response measures as strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea continued to affect the province.
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Peace, stability only possible by eliminating terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, Dar says at SCO meeting
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that durable peace and stability in the region can only be achieved by eliminating the threat of terrorism emanating from neighbouring Afghanistan.
“Durable peace, stability and economic development can only be achieved with the eradication of the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil,” he said while speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
He said that Pakistan desired to see a “peaceful, stable, regionally integrated and prosperous Afghanistan which is at peace with itself and its neighbours”, adding that this would be in the best interest of all SCO member states and beyond.
He said that currently, the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan was one of the most serious security challenges for Pakistan. He said that terrorist organisations continued to recruit, train and operate from Afghan soil “under the watch and facilitation of the Afghan Taliban regime”.
He said that this support was “well-documented”, adding that Pakistan was at the forefront of this threat. He added that this year alone, more than 560 Pakistanis have been killed in over 2,000 terrorist attacks.
“It is also deeply concerning that Afghan nationals have been found to be involved in these terrorist incidents,” the minister said.
He urged the SCO to demand the Afghan Taliban regime to “honour its counter-terrorism commitments to the international community and fulfil its responsibilities towards global peace and security”.
During his remarks, Dar said that since its establishment, the SCO has become “an anchor for regional cooperation, driving vital progress in peace, security, stability and economic connectivity while also simultaneously fostering deep cultural exchanges among member states”.
He said that over the last 25 years, the SCO had transitioned from a security-centric Shanghai Five to a “comprehensive entity that integrates security, economy, development, culture and peace among others”.
Looking towards the future, Dar said, the SCO’s development strategy for the next decade should focus on digital inclusivity, bridging technological divide and ensuring energy security.
Talking about the conflict in the Middle East, Dar also said, “Pakistan firmly believes that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect provide the only sustainable way forward to resolve conflicts and achieve durable peace and security.”
He added that this principle led to Pakistan hosting talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad in April, “enabling first high-level direct diplomatic contact between the two sides after 47 years”.
The Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed in June 2026, was a “historic breakthrough” that became possible due to Pakistan’s close engagement with both parties, Dar said. He added that Pakistan also engaged in “intensive diplomatic outreach to regional and international partners” to make the deal possible.
“Pakistan deeply appreciates the trust and confidence reposed in it by both Iran and the United States in undertaking this challenging responsibility in the larger interests of peace and security.”
Dar then urged the international community to seize the opportunity provided by the Islamabad MoU and US-Iran technical talks to push for lasting peace.
Dar meets Kyrgyz president, Iranian and Chinese foreign ministers
Dar also held separate bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz Republic President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Regarding the meeting with Wang, the Foreign Office (FO) said, “The two leaders held a warm and productive exchange of views on bilateral relations, regional developments, and cooperation within multilateral forums.”
It said Dar thanked Wang for “appreciating Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability”. It added that Wang conveyed his best wishes to Pakistan for its upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) and hosting of the SCO Summit in 2027.
Iran’s state-run Press TV reported that the foreign minister also met with Araghchi, posting footage of the two ministers greeting each other warmly.
Dar also called on Kyrgyz Republic President Zhaparov along with the foreign ministers of other SCO states.
The FO said Dar thanked Zhaparov for the hospitality extended during the SCO meeting.
“The interaction covered regional and global developments, as well as the evolving role of the SCO as an important platform for cooperation,” it said.
DPM Dar also underscored “the importance of continued collaboration among SCO member states as Pakistan prepares to assume the SCO chairmanship for 2026–27.”
Initially formed as a security cooperation group in 2001, the SCO has now evolved into a forum for trade and economic development in the region.
The SCO comprises 10 member states, namely India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The two observer states are Afghanistan and Mongolia.
Earlier this month, President Asif Ali Zardari and Kyrgyzstan’s Zhaparov reaffirmed their commitment to boosting bilateral ties between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, particularly deepening trade, economic and investment cooperation.
Security forces kill 4 terrorists in Mastung operation: interior ministry
Security forces have killed four more terrorists during an operation in the Khad Kocha area of Balochistan’s Mastung district, the interior ministry and state broadcaster said on Friday.
State broadcaster Radio Pakistan initially reported operation, saying that the terrorists belonged to Fitna-al-Hindustan — a term that the state uses for Balochistan-based groups to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
It quoted security sources as saying that large quantities of weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists while several others, suspected of involvement in facilitating terrorism, were apprehended.
The sources further said that search and clearance operations are ongoing in the area while security forces continue to maintain comprehensive surveillance, according to Radio Pakistan.
Later, the operation and the fatalities among the terrorists were confirmed in an X post by the interior ministry, which said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had lauded the security forces for the successful operation.
The statement said, “The interior minister commended the professional capabilities of the security forces after the killing of the four terrorists.”
It further said that full-scale and effective operations were under way against terrorrists in Balochistan and quoted Naqvi as saying that the alliance between the Fitna-al-Khawarij — a term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — and Fitna-al-Hindustan could not destroy peace in the country.
On Thursday, security sources said that six terrorists were killed in a security operation in the Khud Kocha during an operation launched on the basis of credible intelligence. The sources added that several individuals, including women suicide bombers and their facilitators, were arrested during the action while several terrorist hideouts were also destroyed.
Security officials said the Balochistan Home Department had imposed a curfew in the Khud Kocha area on Wednesday night to facilitate the operation.
The indefinite curfew was imposed after three people were killed and five others injured in a gun attack on a Karachi-bound passenger bus, and a bridge on the National Highway was damaged in an explosion in the area.
These attacks take place as Balochistan continues to face security challenges.
Before the curfew was imposed on Wednesday, the military’s media affairs wing said in a statement in the afternoon that security forces had killed 10 terrorists and apprehended two female suicide bombers, along with their facilitator, during operations in Balochistan’s Surab and Mastung districts over the past 48 hours.
Earlier this month, security forces and law enforcement personnel jointly launched Operation Shaban in Balochistan in retaliation for a deadly attack on a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat on July 6. During that assault, armed attackers kidnapped and killed 27 police officers.
A monthly security assessment released in early June by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said that after two consecutive months of improvement, Pakistan’s security situation deteriorated sharply in May, driven primarily by escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The report said Balochistan emerged as the most affected province during the month. The province recorded 71 terrorist attacks, compared with 34 in April, representing a 109pc increase.
The deteriorating security situation was further reflected in a surge in kidnappings, it said. Of the 54 abductions reported nationwide during May, 52 occurred in Balochistan alone, highlighting the growing operational reach and confidence of terrorist groups in the province, it said.
On July 9, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the country’s civil and military leadership had taken a “mutual and singular decision” to end terrorism after multiple major terrorist incidents in Balochistan.
He made the remarks at a meeting in Quetta of the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also present.
PM Shehbaz’s statement came a day after the military Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry addressed a press conference, pointing the finger squarely at India and Afghanistan for being behind recent attacks in Balochistan.
He specifically mentioned “three major terrorist incidents” in recent days — an armed attack on the outskirts of Quetta on July 5, an assault on a police post in Ziarat on July 6, and an ambush of an army convoy in Bela on July 7.
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Dengue drive leads to 20 arrests, 2 offices sealed in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD – At least 20 people were arrested and two private offices were sealed during a district administration campaign against dengue-related violations in different parts of the federal capital.
The action targeted locations where dengue larvae were found and where preventive SOPs were repeatedly ignored, according to spokesman of ICT administration here.
He said that the Islamabad district administration has intensified its anti-dengue campaign as part of ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
Assistant Commissioners carried out inspections across several sectors and commercial areas, taking action against individuals and businesses linked to conditions that can contribute to dengue breeding. Assistant Commissioner City conducted inspections in sectors G-7, G-8, G-9 and the Blue Area. During the operation, seven people were arrested for violations related to dengue prevention measures.
In another action, two private offices were sealed after repeated violations of dengue SOPs. One person was also taken into custody during the operation.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Industrial Area carried out inspections in different locations and shifted 10 individuals to police custody over violations.
During the same campaign, positive dengue larvae were detected on the premises of a private university. Following the discovery, a member of the university staff was taken into custody.
Officials also found positive dengue larvae at a petrol station in Sector I-10. One individual was moved to a police station for further legal proceedings after the inspection team confirmed the presence of larvae.
Similarly, Assistant Commissioner Potohar conducted an operation in Sector H-13, where two individuals were arrested for failing to comply with dengue prevention regulations.
