Key facts
- Explosions were heard near a military base hosting U.S. forces in Erbil, northern Iraq.
- Black smoke was seen rising from areas near or inside a base at the city's airport.
- Sirens sounded twice in Bahrain.
- Iran has been targeting countries hosting American troops in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.
- Kurdish security forces reported that the US-led coalition intercepted multiple drones and missiles over Erbil.
A series of explosions sounded near a military base hosting U.S. forces in northern Iraq's Erbil on Friday, July 24, 2026, with black smoke seen rising from the area. Sirens also rang out in Bahrain. The incidents occurred hours after the American military stated it had concluded its 13th night of strikes against Iran.
The conflict has escalated over the past week, with the U.S. conducting strikes on Iran while Tehran has targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz and attacked U.S. assets and allies in the region. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global energy supplies, is central to the current fighting, as Iranian attacks can effectively shut down the waterway, leading to soaring fuel prices and economic turmoil.
Iranian-allied Houthi rebels also contributed to pressure by targeting two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, fulfilling a threat to disrupt an alternative oil route. Despite the war's unpopularity in the U.S. and its economic impact on Iran and the global economy, there is no clear off-ramp for the conflict. Iran's Health Ministry reported 55 deaths and over 600 wounded in recent weeks due to the escalated fighting.
An Associated Press journalist heard at least seven blasts in Erbil and observed at least four plumes of black smoke near or within a base at the city's airport. In response to U.S. bombings of Iran, Tehran has targeted several countries hosting American troops. Bahrain sounded sirens twice, though no immediate damage was reported. U.S. strikes reportedly hit a naval base for the Revolutionary Guard in northern Iran, with blasts also reported on Qeshm Island and in Isfahan province. U.S. Central Command stated the strikes aimed to "further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters."
Explosive drones were also reported to have struck a U.S. military base near Erbil airport, causing a weapons storage facility to catch fire and leading to secondary explosions as munitions detonated. Footage from the scene showed flames and repeated blasts. This strike is part of a broader wave of retaliatory attacks by Iran following U.S.-Israeli air strikes on its territory. The pro-Iran Kataeb Hezbollah group had previously threatened attacks on U.S. bases. Kurdish security forces later announced that the U.S.-led coalition had intercepted multiple drones and missiles over Erbil.