Capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
The United States has carried out repeated air and naval strikes across Iran since mid‑July, including attacks on coastal surveillance, air defences and transport links, while Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on US bases and Gulf allies and warned it will retaliate further. The fragile June memorandum to pause the war has largely collapsed and the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted (19 July 2026).
The United States has escalated strikes against Iran, while Iran and its IRGC retaliate with missiles and drones targeting Gulf bases and shipping. The renewed hostilities threaten global energy flows as both sides threaten further action and diplomatic talks remain fragile. The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis.
Turkey has warned of Kurdish mobilisations in Iran and Iraq while PKK elements push for guarantees and a defined role for Abdullah Ocalan. Ankara maintains disarmament as a precondition for broader reforms, with stalled parliamentary momentum and ongoing regional tensions complicating prospects for renewed peace.
The region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks focused on control of the Strait of Hormuz. The collapse of a ceasefire has left no clear end in sight. U.S. airstrikes have targeted Iranian infrastructure while Iran has responded with strikes and ship disruptions; oil prices have surged accordingly.
Iranian strikes on Kurdish dissident camps in Iraqi Kurdistan have intensified, with drones, missiles, and air defenses reported. Erbil and nearby bases have faced downed drones and fires, while Iraqi Kurdish authorities condemn the attacks and call on Tehran to stop the escalation. The United States-led coalition is monitoring the developments as violence threatens regional stability.