Day 138: IRGC Strikes Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan Overnight; Iran Declares 'Existential War,' Voids MOU; US Launches 7-Hour Strike Wave

IRGC launched overnight strikes on US assets in three countries: it claimed to have hit the US Fifth Fleet HQ and fuel depots in Bahrain, targeted a US logistics hub at Mina Abdullah, Kuwait (Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said it downed 4 cruise missiles and 21 drones), and struck Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, claiming hits on an F-18 area, barracks, and an equipment hangar. The US responded with a seven-hour wave of strikes overnight into July 16, hitting dozens of Iranian military targets near Hormuz and the coast, including Qeshm Island. Top Iranian negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf declared Iran in 'an essential and existential war with America,' said the MOU was void and Iranian forces have 'complete freedom of action,' but said Iran remains open to talks if the US honors the memorandum. Iran's cumulative July death toll reached at least 35 killed, 300+ wounded, including 7 troops of the 388th Brigade in a Bampour barracks strike.