Jul 30, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC

The United States military launched new overnight strikes against targets inside Iran, describing the operation as a powerful response to Iranian ballistic missile attacks aimed at American positions in the region.

The retaliatory strikes followed an Iranian surprise attack on Tuesday, during which US and Jordanian forces intercepted multiple Iranian missiles targeting a US base in Jordan. US President Donald Trump promised severe retaliation, reversing recent signals of a potential diplomatic pause.

Meanwhile, new American sanctions were levied against Tehran, and fires erupted on two oil tankers at Egypt's Damietta port following a suspected drone attack. Despite the renewed military clashes, crude oil prices dropped over five percent in Asian trading on continued expectations of potential negotiations.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, El Mundo, FAZ, La Stampa, NOS

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Italy intends to request €14.9 billion from the European Union's Safe fund for military procurement. The proposal triggered immediate friction within the ruling coalition, as representatives from Lega and Brothers of Italy insisted that any decision requires parliamentary approval.

Concurrently, details from a Milan court revealed that Russian intelligence agencies have engaged ordinary Italian citizens to collect sensitive NATO and military information in exchange for payments.

On the international front, Gulf states, mediated by Oman, have offered financial compensation to Iran to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic disruptions risk up to $90 billion in economic losses. Domestically, public frustration persists over a government decree granting lower fuel subsidies to diesel drivers affected by energy price spikes caused by the Middle East crisis.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Stampa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of an imminent overnight Russian attack, urging citizens to heed air raid alerts and calling on international partners for additional air defense support. The warning followed talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Lublin. Meanwhile, reports indicate Ukraine lost an F-16 fighter jet.

Concurrently, Ukrainian forces executed long-range drone strikes targeting Russian infrastructure. Attacks hit Wildberries logistics hubs, causing up to $1.3 billion in damage, alongside a steel plant near Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported intercepting over 390 drones without mentioning facility damage.

Additionally, Zelenskyy claimed Moscow plans to deploy 30,000 North Korean troops to Voronezh. Separately, France expelled a Russian propagandist, and Moscow issued an arrest warrant for Telegram's founder.

Sources: FAZ, Hartpunkt, ORF, Sweden Herald.

Air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine as Russian forces launched missile strikes targeting multiple cities, including the capital, Kyiv. The bombardments coincided with ongoing Ukrainian long-range strikes against key industrial sites inside Russia. Ukrainian military operations have focused on damaging Russian oil refineries, leading to domestic fuel shortages across several Russian regions.

The escalation follows recent high-level diplomatic engagements, including talks between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding air defense capabilities and peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with US official Marco Rubio in Manila, demanding an end to Western military assistance to Kyiv as Washington weighs additional economic sanctions against Moscow. Demonstrations in Kyiv over the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov entered their tenth day.

Sources: Corriere della Sera.

A federal jury in New York has convicted Hadi Matar on terrorism charges stemming from his August 2022 attack on author Sir Salman Rushdie. Matar, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence for attempted murder, was found guilty of providing material support to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group designated as a terrorist organization by the US, and committing an act of transnational terrorism.

During a public lecture in New York, Matar stabbed Rushdie about ten times, leaving the writer blind in one eye. Prosecutors argued that Matar acted to target Rushdie over his novel "The Satanic Verses." The 28-year-old dual US-Lebanese national was arrested at the scene immediately following the assault.

Sources: BBC News, NOS, Sweden Herald.