US strikes Iranian missile sites as tensions escalate

US strikes Iranian missile sites as tensions escalate July 16, 2026What you need to know - Explosions reported near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran - US strikes Iranian missile and coastal defense sites - Iran warns it could disrupt more regional energy exports - Escalation follows the collapse of a fragile truce Follow DW's coverage of the war between the US and Iran on Thursday, July 16. Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to keep DW News at the top of your feed. Bahrain, Kuwait issue alerts amid new security threats Bahrain and Kuwaithave issued fresh security warnings as regional tensions continue to escalate. Bahrain's Interior Ministry said air raid sirens had been activated and urged people to remain calm, seek shelter and follow official instructions. Meanwhile, Kuwait's military said its air defense systems were intercepting hostile drone attacks from Iran. The armed forces added that any explosions heard by residents were likely the result of air defense operations and urged the public to follow security guidance from authorities. The alerts come after a series of US and Iranian strikes in recent days. Iran has claimed attacks on targets in Bahrain, including facilities linked to the US military, while Jordan and Kuwait have also reported intercepting missiles or drones allegedly launched from Iran. Both Bahrainand Kuwait host US military facilities and have been on heightened alert as the confrontation between Washington and Tehran continues to intensify. Trump says Iran released American detainee US President Donald Trump says Iran has allowed an American citizen detained in the country since 2024 to leave. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the woman, whom he described as having been "wrongfully detained" during the previous Biden administration, is now safely outside Iran. "She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran," Trump wrote. No further details about the individual's identity or the circumstances of her release were immediately provided. Welcome to our coverage Iranian state media has reported two explosions east of the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. The reports come after the United States carried out fresh strikes on Iranian coastal defense systems and missile sites, following the reimposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran has warned that it could disrupt more regional energy exports, describing the confrontation as an "existential war" with the United States. Stay with us for the latest developments, analysis and reactions as this fast-moving story unfolds.