On Friday, July 17, 2026, the United States launched a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran. In response, Tehran has reportedly instructed Yemen's Houthi rebels to be ready to disrupt shipping through the Red Sea if US attacks target Iranian power infrastructure. This proposal has been discussed within Iran's leadership and communicated to the Houthis, according to three sources familiar with the matter, though neither Tehran nor the Yemeni group has publicly confirmed the report.

Meanwhile, several explosions were reported early Friday in Doha, Qatar, as Iran targeted US military bases in neighboring Middle Eastern states. Iran has also fired missiles and drones at US-linked targets in neighboring countries.

In a related development, former US President Trump announced that a US citizen, described as "wrongfully detained" since 2024, had safely left Iran. Trump called the release a "gesture of goodwill" by Tehran, although Iran denies that any American prisoner was freed.

Follow Deutsche Welle's ongoing coverage for updates on the conflict between the US and Iran.

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