Shortly before 8 pm local time, a suicide bomber attacked an anti-militant rally near a police station in Kabal, Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to local officials, 17 people were killed in the attack, including seven police officers and 10 civilians, and 34 others were wounded. Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered to demand peace and protest the resurgence of militant activity in the region when the attacker detonated explosives. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. Swat Valley was a stronghold of Islamic militants until a Pakistani military operation in 2007 restored government control. In recent months, militants have reappeared, raising concerns that the Pakistani Taliban are attempting to reestablish a presence in the region, prompting residents to hold repeated anti-Taliban rallies in protest.

At least 14 members of the Niger Defense and Security Forces (FDS) were killed in a coordinated terrorist attack and subsequent ambush by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Greater Sahara militants near N'Guigmi in the Diffa Region of southeastern Niger. The attack began when the militants assaulted a National Guard position, prompting military reinforcements to deploy to the area. About one kilometer from the base, the reinforcements were caught in a well-planned ambush, resulting in the deaths of 10 soldiers, including an officer, and four National Guard personnel. Four additional National Guard members were injured, one critically. Security forces launched search operations to track down the attackers.

Spain and Morocco reinforced security along the border at Ceuta after an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings that saw between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants enter the Spanish enclave by land and sea from 30 July, an influx equal to about 70% of Ceuta's population. The sudden arrival created a humanitarian crisis, prompting Spain to deploy armed forces and additional police as thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, slept in parks and on sidewalks. Spanish authorities reported that at least 72 migrants died, with many drowned or crushed in a stampede while attempting to climb the Tarajal Beach breakwater and warned that additional casualties may have occurred on the Moroccan side. Spain's Interior Ministry said that 48,300 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco by 31 July, with returns continuing throughout the day. Migrants also attempted to enter Melilla, where clashes with police were reported on both sides of the border, while Moroccan security forces used tear gas, water cannons and warning shots to prevent further crossings and reiterated support for legal and orderly migration. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez who visited Ceuta, described the mass crossing as an unexpected violation of Spain's territorial integrity, blamed human smuggling networks for encouraging the surge, linked the influx to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling restricting the immediate deportation of migrants arriving by sea, and reaffirmed Spain's commitment to combating illegal migration despite policies granting legal status to some undocumented migrants. The crisis reignited debate over European migration policy following recent European Union asylum and border reforms. France strengthened border checks with Spain, Italy suspended Schengen border arrangements with Spain for air and sea travel while tightening controls along the French Italian border, and Poland urged Spain to strengthen border security. The European Union said there was no evidence of onward migration to other member states, noted that special Schengen rules already apply to Ceuta and Melilla, condemned the scenes, and called for stronger action against smuggling networks and faster migrant returns. The United States also expressed support for Spain's sovereignty and border security while criticizing Spain's immigration policies following the mass crossings.

Iranian forces launched at least five ballistic missiles at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a key U.S. military hub in the region located near Azraq in Jordan's eastern Zarqa Governorate. The U.S. had paused its strikes against Iran after conducting nightly attacks from 8 July through 24 July to allow negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, although Iranian sources reportedly viewed the pause as tactical rather than genuine. The U.S. is likely to retaliate against the Iranian attack, which shattered a lull in the mutual strikes. The attack could therefore mark the beginning of a renewed escalation, particularly if Washington responds with strikes against Iranian military or strategic targets. It may also increase concerns in Jordan about its territory being used as a launchpad for U.S. military operations and becoming a target for further Iranian attacks.