The United States launched a third consecutive night of attacks against Iran late Monday, targeting military installations along Iran's southern coast. Iran retaliated on Tuesday with waves of strikes against US allies and interests across the Gulf, including oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.
US Attacks on Iran
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the strikes, which began at 4:45 pm ET (20:45 GMT) on Monday, aimed to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilians and commercial shipping in the strait. The five-hour operation targeted military sites in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas. Iranian state media reported explosions across the southern coast, including Bandar Abbas and the islands of Kish and Qeshm. A projectile in western Bandar Abbas caused no casualties, according to the Fars news agency.
Iran's Retaliatory Strikes
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a broader campaign against US allies and interests across the Gulf:
- UAE: Two UAE-flagged oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in Omani waters in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight others.
- Kuwait: Iran's army claimed a drone attack on US military targets, including a Patriot missile system, fuel tanks, and communication systems.
- Bahrain: The IRGC struck weapons depots, a satellite communications center, and a building housing US forces at al-Juffair Base, as well as the US Fifth Fleet. Air sirens sounded four times on Tuesday.
- Jordan: Jordan's army shot down four Iranian missiles over its territory. The IRGC later launched ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Jordan, but insisted the operation targeted only the US military presence, not Jordan or its citizens.
US and Iran Statements
President Donald Trump notified Congress on July 10 that hostilities with Iran had resumed on July 7, invoking authority to keep US forces in combat for 60 more days. At a press conference Monday, Trump said Iran's offensive capabilities were being dismantled but a "deal is possible." He also repeated demands for Gulf nations to help cover the cost of protecting shipping. Trump threatened to "take out" a suspected nuclear site near Natanz.
Iran's Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Parliament's National Security Committee, stated on X that a bill to manage the Strait of Hormuz has been formally introduced, vowing to defend Iran's red lines.
Impact on Shipping and Oil
The US blockade on Iran, confirmed by the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), is set to begin at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday, covering Iran's ports and terminals along the southern coastline. Oil prices surged over 9% on Monday, with Brent crude reaching about $81 a barrel, its highest since mid-June. Ship-tracking firm Kpler reported crossings through the Strait of Hormuz fell by about 52% between July 10 and July 12 compared to the previous week.