Levant in July 2026: the most important developments in security
In the Levant in July 2026, a bomb blast at a cafe in Damascus on July 2 killed at least five people. On July 7, during the visit of French President Macron, a series of explosions near his hotel in the Syrian capital wounded at least 18 people; Macron was reported safe, and Syrian President al-Sharaa vowed to arrest those responsible. No group claimed the attack, and Syria suspected loyalists of the former Assad government. Israeli forces made repeated incursions in southern Syria, and the IDF detained Israelis who crossed the Syrian border near Mount Hermon.
The war between the United States and Iran spread to Jordan and other states. On July 9 the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they struck a US command center and airbase in Jordan with 10 missiles, and Jordan said it intercepted eight. Iran attacked Prince Hassan Air Base on July 13, and the US carried out strikes on Iran on consecutive nights, eight by July 19. On July 17 the Guards claimed strikes on US targets in Syria, Kuwait and Oman. On July 18 two US service members were killed and one went missing after an Iranian missile and drone attack on a base in Jordan, bringing US military deaths in the conflict to 16, according to the Pentagon; a third American was later identified as killed. Jordan reported intercepting missiles and drones almost daily, including on July 28, when Trump said the United States would hit Iran hard. On July 30 the two sides traded heavy strikes.
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes and demolitions continued despite the ceasefire with Hezbollah. Israel struck the south on July 6, and on July 20 Israeli forces surrounded Hezbollah fighters in a tunnel network. Lebanon said more than 4,300 people had been killed in Israeli attacks since March. On July 21 Trump said Israel was redeploying from southern Lebanon, and the Lebanese army began moving into the pilot zones. On July 29 Defense Minister Katz said Israel had razed 24 villages in the south, and the IDF chief warned troops could push deeper. Hezbollah drones and Israeli strikes were exchanged as the month ended.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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