Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJames ReynoldsMonday 20 July 2026 12:07 BSTStrikes hit Iraq's Kurdish region as US-Iran tensions escalateIran accused the United States of behaving like Islamic State, citing threats of strikes against its civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, and a reported attack on a watchtower in the southeastern city of Chabahar.Iranian foreign minister Esmail Baghaei condemned these actions as "completely incompatible with international law and the principles of civilised humanitarian conduct," likening them to the conduct of "terrorist groups like ISIS."Conversely, Iran has also been accused of war crimes in recent days for allegedly targeting civilian infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, specifically mentioning a vital desalination plant in Kuwait.Both nations continued to exchange strikes for a ninth consecutive day, with reports indicating that the US is preparing for a greater escalation of the conflict.An anonymous American official revealed that the US is "planning for a wider war" by rushing military aircraft to the region, though they warned of potential limitations due to low stockpiles of air defences and long-range munitions.In fullIran-US war latest: Tehran compares Trump’s attacks on bridges to ISIS as US ‘prepares for all out war’More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in