Asia

Asia

Iran expands attacks on Gulf countries, Strait of Hormuz closed

12 July 2026 19:25 (UTC +04:00)

The reciprocal strikes between the US and Iran have begun to cover a wider geography. On July 12, Iran announced that it had targeted US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Jordan with missiles and drones.

The United Arab Emirates has also been hit by a missile threat. According to Reuters , the latest attacks have dramatically expanded their scope.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have struck a command and control center and drone hangars at a US base in Jordan, a radar site in Kuwait, platforms serving US forces in Oman, and a military aircraft maintenance center in Qatar. None of these reports have been confirmed by the US.

Qatar said it intercepted Iranian missiles. Three people, including a child, were injured when debris from the missiles fell to the ground. Bahrain said it had neutralized several airstrikes, Kuwait said it had intercepted missiles and UAVs, and Oman said it had hit some targets with drones. Three Iranian missiles landed in Jordan, causing minor damage and no injuries.

The new round of tensions began after Iran fired on the Cypriot-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship's engine compartment was severely damaged, 23 crew members were rescued, and one Indian sailor was reported missing.

The US responded by launching large-scale strikes on Iranian territory. According to US Central Command, approximately 140 targets were hit overnight, including Iranian missile and UAV sites, naval facilities, ammunition depots, communications networks and coastal observation posts. The total number of Iranian targets hit in the past three nights has exceeded 300.

Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice and said it will not reopen until the US intervention in the region ends. Tehran has warned that ships passing through its designated route and without prior permission could be targeted.

The US Central Command, however, stated that Iran does not control the strait and that commercial shipping continues to move through. The US Navy-led center advised ships to use an expanded southern route near the coast of Oman.