US and Iran trade attacks as Khamenei is buried

WASHINGTON, United States 

The United States and Iran again traded strikes in exchanges that continued into Thursday, as observers reported a "dramatic" drop in the number of ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Thousands of mourners gather for the burial of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Reza Shrine on July 09, 2026 in Mashhad, Iran.

The US says it hit 90 military targets, some near the Strait. Iran says 14 people have been killed in the past two days.

State media also reported that targets near the Bushehr nuclear power plant were hit, citing the deputy governor of the province. The US has not commented on the latest strikes.

Iran said it targeted US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar in response. Later on Thursday, Tehran launched more strikes on sites in Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq, state-linked media reported.

Separately, huge crowds gathered as Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was buried after six days of funeral events.

The "body of the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution was buried in the memorial hall of the shrine of Imam Reza," state broadcaster IRIB reported, according to AFP.

With crowds waiting outside and listening to prayers, the flag-covered coffin was carried into the shrine of Imam Reza in his home city of Mashhad in eastern Iran.

There was no sign of his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since he was reportedly seriously wounded in the same attack that killed his father.

The crowds was Iranian flags, while some were pictured holding signs carrying death threats directed at US President Donald Trump.

Khamenei was killed on 28 February during the first hours of US and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Iran's foreign ministry denounced the latest US strikes as a "grave war crime", describing the US administration as "evil and psychopathic"

Bridges and a railway route connecting Tehran to the city of Mashhad, where the late supreme leader's funeral is being held, were also damaged, the foreign ministry said.

Iran's health ministry said 14 people had been killed and 78 people injured across five provinces.

Gulf nations reported Iranian attacks following the US strikes, with explosions in Bahrain's capital Manama, Kuwait intercepting missiles and drones, and Qatar issuing a security alert.

Later on Thursday, explosions were heard in Iran's southern port of Konarak, with a local official telling Iran's official news agency a navy site was attacked by an "enemy".

Mbappe and Dembele net as France beat Morocco to reach World Cup semifinal

BOSTON, United States 

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semifinals.

Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes on Thursday before Dembele doubled Les Bleus’ lead six minutes later to settle a clinical victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.

The win sends the 2018 champions into a last-four showdown against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday.

African champions Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.

But Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a limited Morocco side who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free-kick by Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

France, though, struggled to find a breakthrough, and missed the opportunity to take the lead on 28 minutes when Mbappe saw a penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Mbappe had won the penalty after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui but was forced to wait several minutes before being allowed to take the kick after a protracted VAR check.

Morocco managed to hold out to half-time, but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off.

The breakthrough came on the hour mark, with Mbappe bending a brilliant right-foot shot past Bounou from the edge of the area.

Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.

France now await the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 10/7/2026

 

Ebola death toll in the DR Congo rises to 600 with over 1,700 confirmed cases

KINSHASA, DR Congo 

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Thursday that the death toll in the current Ebola outbreak has increased to 600.

These figures were released just three days after the toll surpassed 500, highlighting the rapid spread of the disease.

Also on Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention described the outbreak as the “fastest growing ever”.

"Unfortunately the virus is still ahead of our response. It's moving faster than deploying the resources to control the situation," its head of emergency preparedness said.

The news comes as the DRC’s health ministry said new cases have been reported in parts of the country that were previously unaffected.

In addition, confirmed cases have now reached over 1,700 amid continued community transmission.

The outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic virus has been concentrated in 37 health zones in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.

But suspected cases have now been recorded in Kisangani in Tshopo province and in Haut-Uele, signalling the continued spread of the disease beyond the epicentre in Ituri.

Efforts to contain the virus have been hampered by a funding gap, attacks on health centres and medical staff, and an ongoing conflict in the east of the country.

The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak currently has a case fatality rate of 34 per cent, based on data provided by the country’s health authorities.

It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus which has no approved vaccine or treatments for the moment. Two potential treatments went on trial in the DRC on 2 July.

By the time the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May, the virus had already been spreading undetected for weeks.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 9/7/2026

 

Trump threatens more strikes on Iran as Tehran warns of 'fearless' response

ANKARA, Turkey 

United States President, Donald Trump has said the ceasefire agreement with Iran is "over", blasting the country's leadership as "scum" and "cuckoo" after fresh exchanges of fire overnight.

Speaking later to reporters at a Nato summit in Turkey, the American president said the US "hit them very hard last night" and will "probably hit them hard again tonight".

He accused Tehran of violating an interim deal signed by both countries in June that called for an end to the conflict, adding that they "lie" and "cheat".

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded in a post on X: "We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valour."

Tuesday night into Wednesday saw the worst exchange of strikes between the US and Iran since the deal - known as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) - was signed on 17 June.

It included 14 points, among them a 60-day period for a ceasefire during which negotiations should continue, the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and the US lifting sanctions on Iran.

When asked about the deal at the Nato summit on Wednesday, Trump said: "I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them any more, they're scum... they're led by sick people and they're vicious, violent people."

"We make a deal... They [Iran] go outside, talk to the press, they say 'we never even talked about it'. There's something wrong with them. They're cuckoo. As far as I'm concerned, it's over."

Speaking ahead of the summit, the president said US negotiators could continue talks "if they want" but said he saw it as "a waste of time".

However in a later news conference, Trump told reporters he didn't think the Iran war would start again and said "anything that happens will be over quickly".

His comments have prompted responses from several Iranian officials. A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, warned new strikes from the US would be met with an "immediate response".

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also said Trump's comments "are not a sign of strength, but rather an admission of the failure of a policy built on brute force, sanctions, and threats for years, which could not bring the Iranian nation to its knees".

US Central Command (Centcom) said on Tuesday it had launched "powerful" strikes in response to attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media said eight members of the country's army had been killed in US strikes in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, southern Iran.

The US also said it had revoked its temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil sales.

On Wednesday, Iran said it targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation.

Oil prices jumped after Trump's comments, although they are still well below the highs seen during the full closure of the strait.

Centcom said on Wednesday more than 20 US Navy warships were continuing to patrol waters across the Middle East.

Egypt want FIFA officials kicked out of World Cup

CAIRO, Egypt 

The Egyptian Football Association says it has asked Fifa to kick the officials in charge of their World Cup last-16 defeat by Argentina out of the tournament.

The EFA said it had lodged a complaint with football's world governing body and wants an investigation into "double standards" of officiating in the game in Atlanta.

With Egypt leading 1-0 in the second half, the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled out a goal by Mostafa Zico after Egypt midfielder Marwan Attia was penalised for stepping on Lisandro Martinez's foot at the start of the move.

Egypt also thought Mohamed Salah was fouled in the Argentina penalty area, seconds before the reigning champions broke for the stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 victory.

An EFA statement read: "Hany Abou Rida, president of the Egyptian football federation, filed a complaint with Fifa, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match and leave the World Cup."

The EFA has called for an investigation of the team of referees and video technology referees after what it said were "blatant errors and insisting on not reviewing some of the footage".

It "demanded the exclusion of the referee and the entire crew from the World Cup after investigating these mistakes" and alleged "the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team".

Egypt have never reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who could be playing in his final World Cup, set up their first goal in the 79th minute and scored an 83rd-minute equaliser.

After the game manager Hossam Hassan said Egypt had been "treated unfairly" and "suffered injustice".

"Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running," he said.

Zico said: "The referee was really unfair. The injustice was clear. There's been an unfairness right from the start of the match.

"It is clear that this tournament has been fixed."

Argentina play Switzerland in Kansas City next Saturday.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 8/7/2026