Iran strikes Bahrain, Houthis threaten Bab el-Mandeb, UK designates IRGC as terrorist

Sirens sounded in Bahrain on Tuesday evening as Iran launched an attack, while Houthis warned of closing Bab el-Mandeb.

Iran strikes Bahrain, Houthis threaten Bab el-Mandeb, UK designates IRGC as terrorist — Sirens were reported sounding in Bahrain on Tuesday evening, July 14, 2026, as a result of an Iranian attack, according to Bahrain's Ministry of Interior.[^1] The strikes came hours after Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and in the city of Andimeshk, near the Iraq border.[^2] Meanwhile, a senior Houthi official, Mohammed al-Farah, warned on Monday that if Saudi Arabia continues attacks on Yemen, the Houthis are prepared to close Bab el-Mandeb, potentially sending oil prices to $200 a barrel.[^3] In a separate development, the British government declared Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.[^4] Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei, representing the National Security Committee, officially announced the termination of the 'Memorandum of Understanding' with Washington.[^5] US President Donald Trump, during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeyadi, stated that a deal was ready two days before the strikes on Iran, but the Iranian side did not agree and opened fire first.[^6] Elsewhere, Cuba's power grid collapsed this evening for the third time in nine days, leaving the country's 10 million residents without electricity.[^7] In Sudan, the World Food Programme warned of a funding gap of $646 million, with about 19.5 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity.[^8] Likud infighting, settlement approval, and Azaria pardon request — Defense Minister Israel Katz asked President Isaac Herzog today to expunge the criminal record of Elor Azaria, despite IDF opposition that there is no justification for the move.[^1] The request pits the political echelon against the military establishment, reopening a divisive case. At the Likud Constitution Committee meeting yesterday, MK David Bitan attacked Netanyahu over his demand for eight reserved slots on the party list. "When the Prime Minister asks for ten reserved slots, and even eight is a lot, there is almost no chance for MKs to be elected," Bitan said, adding that "everything is foggy."[^2] Netanyahu retorted, "David, go get elected, be