US Pauses Iran Strikes for First Night as West Bank Raids Net 70+ Suspects (Jul 25, 1528 UTC, 1828 Israel) (Evening Edition)
- Issued
- 18:28IL15:28UTC11:28EST
- Window
- 09:51IL06:51UTC02:51EST (-9H)
BLUF
The US paused its bombing campaign on Iran for the first time in 14 nights, while both sides confirmed ongoing talks amid a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz. The IDF conducted extensive West Bank raids, detaining more than 70 suspects after a deadly clash near Tell. Israeli forces carried out demolitions in southern Lebanon, and Houthi attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities were reported.
Top Lines
- US pauses strikes on Iran for the first night in two weeks; both sides confirm talks continue.
- IDF, ISA, and Border Police detain over 70 wanted suspects in West Bank counterterrorism operations.
- Houthis claim twin attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu; Yemeni air force reportedly strikes Houthi launch sites.
- 1IranIran
- 2LebanonLebanon / Hezbollah
- 3GazaGaza
- 4West BankWest Bank
Situational Report
The US paused its 13-night bombing campaign on Iran overnight into Saturday, with both Washington and Tehran confirming ongoing negotiations. The pause came amid a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran accuses the US of violating an interim deal. In the West Bank, Israeli forces detained more than 70 suspects in extensive raids following a deadly shooting near Tell. In southern Lebanon, Israeli troops conducted demolitions and artillery shelling. Houthi forces claimed attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities, while Yemeni military sources reported strikes on Houthi positions.
Iran
Iran
US Strike Pause and Talks
The US did not conduct strikes on Iran overnight into Saturday for the first time in two weeks, according to Iranian state media Al Jazeera English. Both sides confirmed that talks are ongoing, though Iran’s foreign ministry accused the US of violating a June interim agreement by forcing a bypass corridor for shipping TLDR Iran SITREP. President Trump signaled that talks continue but also expanded the target scope for potential future strikes TLDR Iran SITREP.
Iranian Commander Threats
The commander of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbia Central Headquarters declared a new “equation,” warning that for every Iranian civilian killed by US attacks, one US service member would die Al-Manar TV. Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohammad Bagher Zolqadr vowed continued strikes until the enemy’s “complete surrender” IRNA.
Strait of Hormuz Dispute
The Strait of Hormuz remains at 15% of pre-war traffic, with only 7% tanker traffic. The US-Iran interim MoU is reportedly collapsing over a route sovereignty dispute TLDR Iran SITREP. The EU has begun delaying the release of satellite images of Hormuz shipping lanes by 24 hours at US request Al-Manar TV.
Iranian Recovery Claims
Al-Manar TV published satellite images purporting to show Iran’s rapid recovery from US strikes, challenging US and Israeli claims of a “decisive victory” Al-Manar TV.
Other Developments
Iran and Iraq opened two temporary air routes for Arbaeen pilgrimage flights IRNA. Iran and India agreed to facilitate medical and pharmaceutical cooperation at a BRICS meeting IRNA. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei emphasized the need to explain the “facts” of the US-Israeli-imposed war to the Iranian public IRNA.
Lebanon / Northern Front
Lebanon / Hezbollah
Lebanon / Northern Front
Lebanon / Hezbollah
Israeli Demolitions and Shelling
Israeli forces conducted demolition operations on the outskirts of Kawneen and Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon Al-Manar TV. Artillery shelled the outskirts between Kawnin and Beit Yahoun, and the IDF demolished the town of Markaba’s water project Al-Manar TV. An explosion was reported in the town of Taybeh Bint Jbeil News.
Israeli Military Movements
Several Israeli military vehicles were seen moving along the main road between Tayri and Haddatha, with drones flying overhead Bint Jbeil News. Al-Manar’s correspondent reported a constant buzz of Israeli drones over Beirut and Dahiyeh Al-Manar TV.
Gaza
Gaza
Airstrikes and Casualties
Israeli aircraft bombarded Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, including a residential building Quds News Network. Ongoing Israeli attacks killed two Palestinians, including the governor of the Northern Gaza Strip Al-Manar TV. IRNA reported six Palestinians killed, raising the total death toll to 73,317 IRNA.
West Bank
West Bank
Major Counterterrorism Operations
Overnight and throughout Saturday morning, IDF soldiers, the ISA, and Israel Border Police conducted extensive counterterrorism operations across Judea and Samaria, apprehending more than 70 wanted suspects. All were transferred for further processing IDF Official. In the Samaria Regional Brigade, a brigade-level operation was completed in the area of Tell, where the terrorist who executed Friday’s shooting attack resided. Eleven wanted suspects were apprehended and approximately 80 individuals were questioned IDF Official.
Settler Violence and Displacement
A baby was rescued after Israeli settlers set a home on fire in the occupied West Bank Al Jazeera English. Save the Children reported that more than 1,000 Palestinian children were displaced in the West Bank during the first half of 2026—half the total displaced over the previous three years. Settler attacks rose by 45% compared to the same period last year Quds News Network.
Other Incidents
Israeli forces detained a Palestinian from Al-Mughyir Quds News Network and uprooted olive trees in Bourine Quds News Network. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese described Israeli attacks as “pogroms” and called for an arms embargo IRNAAl-Manar TV.
Multilateral Institutions
Multilateral & Diplomatic
Multilateral Institutions
Multilateral & Diplomatic
UN and ICC
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese called for an arms embargo on Israel, describing attacks on West Bank civilians as “pogroms” IRNAAl-Manar TV. The ICC investigation into ousted Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan was reported, with his lawyers claiming a political witch hunt Al Jazeera English.
International Conferences
The 5th International Conference of Al-Aqsa Call kicked off in Karbala, Iraq, drawing delegations from various countries IRNA.
Antisemitism & Threats Abroad
Antisemitism
NOSIG
Antisemitism & Threats Abroad
Antisemitism
No significant developments in the coverage window.
Israel in Africa
World – Africa
NOSIG
Israel in Africa
World – Africa
No significant developments in the coverage window.
Israel in Europe
World – Europe
Israel in Europe
World – Europe
France
The French counterterrorism prosecutor announced the arrest of six individuals in connection with an attack foiled about two weeks ago near a synagogue in Sarcelles, near Paris N12 Chat.
Ukraine
Ukraine claimed a drone attack on a Russian oil platform in the Caspian Sea N12 Chat. At least 11 people were killed in Ukrainian and Russian strikes, including a holiday camp hit Al Jazeera English.
Israel in the Americas
World – Americas
NOSIG
Israel in the Americas
World – Americas
No significant developments in the coverage window.
Israel in Asia-Pacific
World – Asia-Pacific
Israel in Asia-Pacific
World – Asia-Pacific
Israel in MENA (Non-Belligerent)
World – MENA (Other)
Israel in MENA (Non-Belligerent)
World – MENA (Other)
Yemen
Houthi forces claimed two separate operations targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu with dozens of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones IRNA. Two Yemeni military sources told Reuters that the Yemeni air force struck Houthi missile and drone launch sites along front lines in Marib and Al-Jawf governorates N12 Chat. Houthis also fired two ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu refinery, intercepted by Greek air defense TLDR Iran SITREP.
Syria
A collision between two buses on the Damascus-Deir ez-Zor road killed at least 19 people and injured 27, according to Syrian state TV Bint Jbeil NewsN12 Chat.
Iraq
Iran and Iraq opened two temporary air routes for Arbaeen pilgrimage flights IRNA. The 5th International Conference of Al-Aqsa Call was held in Karbala IRNA.
Analysis
Trend
The tempo of direct US-Iran kinetic exchange has decelerated sharply, with the first full-night pause in strikes after 13 consecutive nights. This marks a shift from the prior week's pattern of nightly US bombardment and Iranian retaliatory threats. The protagonist set remains unchanged—Washington and Tehran—but the mode of confrontation has pivoted from active strikes to diplomatic brinkmanship over the Strait of Hormuz. The pause coincides with confirmed ongoing talks, suggesting a deliberate de-escalatory signal rather than operational exhaustion. However, Iranian rhetoric from military commanders has escalated in parallel, introducing a new 'equation' of proportional retaliation, which introduces a risk of rapid re-escalation if talks collapse.
Narrative
The US is pushing a narrative of calibrated pressure and diplomatic off-ramps, framing the pause as a gesture to enable talks. Iran is counter-framing the pause as a US concession forced by Iranian resilience, with state media amplifying satellite imagery of rapid reconstruction to undermine the US 'decisive victory' claim. The Iranian commander's 'one-for-one' threat is a narrative play to deter further strikes by promising direct, personal costs to US personnel. The gap between reporting and evidence is stark on the Hormuz dispute: Iran accuses the US of violating an interim deal, while the US has not publicly detailed its position, leaving the bypass corridor as a black box. The EU's delayed satellite imagery at US request feeds an Iranian narrative of US information control.
Synthesis
The US strike pause is less a genuine de-escalation than a tactical reset to consolidate gains and test Iran's willingness to compromise on the Strait of Hormuz. The pause allows the US to shift the onus onto Iran for the next kinetic move, while Iran's 'equation' threat is designed to raise the political cost of any US resumption. The real action is in the Hormuz standoff: the US is likely using the pause to pressure Iran into accepting a bypass corridor that undermines its strategic leverage, while Iran is betting that the threat of a wider war will force the US to back down. A counter-reading is that the pause reflects a genuine breakthrough in talks; however, the simultaneous hardening of Iranian rhetoric and the unresolved Hormuz dispute make this unlikely. The pattern of de-escalatory action paired with escalatory rhetoric is a classic pre-negotiation posture, but the risk of miscalculation remains high.
OSINT Indicators — Watch
- 1.Check Sentinel-1 IW GRD pass over Strait of Hormuz on 2026-07-26 02:34 UTC for vessel density change near the bypass corridor dispute zone.
- 2.Monitor FlightRadar24 for Iranian military cargo flights (e.g., IRGC-affiliated Pouya Air) departing Mehrabad to Damascus or Beirut in the 24 hours after the US strike pause.
- 3.Review Maxar WorldView-3 tasked imagery of Bandar Abbas naval base from 2026-07-25 to assess IRIN vessel dispersal or concentration following the Hormuz dispute.
Predictions — +24h
Status Quo
- 1.The US will not resume strikes on Iran within the next 48 hours.0.75
- 2.The Iran-Israel ceasefire will hold through 2026-07-28, with no direct Iran-Israel kinetic exchange.0.80
- 3.Iran will not close the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic before 2026-07-28.0.65
Escalation
- 1.Iran will conduct a retaliatory attack on a US base in the region within 72 hours in response to the new 'equation' threat.0.25
- 2.Houthi attacks will cause a major fire or spill at a Saudi Aramco facility in Jizan or Yanbu within 48 hours.0.35
- 3.Israel will launch a preemptive strike on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon within 72 hours, citing imminent threat from drone activity.0.15