Saturday 1 August 2026 08:00 UTC
US Weighs Iran Energy Strikes as Global Risks Mount
In the period ending 1 August at 08:00 UTC, the United States and Israel prepared possible strikes on Iranian energy sites. Donald Trump, the US president, was seriously considering the plan but had not approved it. Attacks could begin this weekend and last several days.
Iran threatened energy sites across the Middle East if its own facilities are hit. Kuwaiti air defences destroyed several hostile drones, likely from Iran. Falling debris caused some damage. Fresh Iranian drones entered Kuwaiti airspace early on 1 August.
An unknown projectile struck a tanker near Oman in the Strait of Hormuz. The engine-room hit left the ship unable to navigate. The strait remained open to commercial shipping despite Iranian claims of full control.
Russia is giving Iran satellite and signals intelligence. The support may help Iran locate US forces and jam American aircraft and weapons.
Iran was likely behind a cyberattack on more than 30 water systems in Minnesota. The attack disrupted control systems but did not contaminate drinking water.
Israel will not make its planned Gaza withdrawal until Hamas genuinely disarms. The United States expects Israel to follow the agreement. Hamas disarmament details remain unfinished and may take weeks.
The Ceuta migration crisis was far larger than first known. About 49,000 migrants entered or tried to enter the Spanish territory from Morocco overnight. Nine bodies were recovered, and stampedes injured migrants. Spain deployed soldiers and police, while Morocco reinforced border controls. Italy suspended free travel with Spain under Europe’s Schengen system.
A Russian ballistic missile killed several civilians in Kyiv as they ran toward shelter. The attack came with little warning. Some areas lacked Patriot protection due to missile shortages.
Ukraine launched another large attack across Russia and occupied Ukraine. Strikes started major fires at Nizhnekamsk and an occupied Donetsk power station. Another strike burned a Russian electronic warfare centre near occupied Sevastopol. The earlier Volgograd strike completely destroyed a large distribution centre.
Search teams found four bodies among ten climbers missing after the Pakistan avalanche.
The United States and Japan jointly bought yen to stop its sharp fall. It was the first such US action in more than a decade. Japan likely spent more than six trillion yen on intervention.
Eurozone inflation rose to 2.9% in July as higher oil prices lifted energy costs. The increase raised expectations for another European Central Bank rate rise.
Several US Federal Reserve officials backed an immediate quarter-point rate increase. The 10-year Treasury yield reached 4.737%, its highest level since January 2025.
Amazon shares jumped 15.2%, heading for their biggest percentage gain since 2012. Apple shares fell 6.6% before trading after its sales forecast missed expectations.
Google suspended its Google Earth AI image tool after experts warned about potential abuse.