Month: July 2026

The United States has launched a series of overnight strikes against dozens of Iranian military targets, prompting a wave of retaliatory attacks by Iran on US-linked sites across the Middle East and raising fresh concerns over regional stability and global energy supplies.

The strikes, announced by US Central Command (Centcom), targeted air defence systems, coastal radar installations, naval assets, missile facilities and drone capabilities. Washington said the operation was conducted in response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

Centcom said the operation involved fighter aircraft, naval vessels, aerial drones and, for the first time, one-way attack sea drones.

“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it,” the US military said in a statement, adding that American forces remain prepared to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial shipping.

The latest escalation follows weeks of mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran. Although both sides agreed to a ceasefire in June under what was described as a memorandum of understanding, US President Donald Trump declared last week that the agreement was “over” and sharply criticised Iran’s leadership.

Iran responded swiftly to the latest US action. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched strikes against several US military installations across the region, including facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.

According to Iranian state media, the attacks targeted two US-linked air bases in Kuwait, military infrastructure and a drone command centre in Bahrain, and the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan.

Iran later expanded its retaliation, announcing that it had also struck radar systems in neighbouring Oman.

Regional governments reported taking defensive measures in response to the attacks. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged residents to seek shelter as a precaution, while Kuwait’s military said it had intercepted hostile aerial targets entering the country’s airspace.

In Jordan, military officials reportedly intercepted four Iranian missiles after they crossed into Jordanian airspace, preventing them from reaching their intended targets.

Neither the United States nor the affected countries immediately confirmed the extent of any damage or casualties resulting from the Iranian strikes.

The renewed military confrontation has also had an immediate impact on global financial markets.

Oil prices rose sharply following news of the overnight attacks and the continuing instability around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically pass.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed nearly five per cent during early Monday trading to more than 79 dollars a barrel.

Despite the increase, prices remain significantly below the levels seen during the height of the recent conflict, when Brent crude approached 120 dollars a barrel. Before fighting intensified earlier this year, oil had been trading at around 70 dollars a barrel.

The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the current crisis. Iran has previously stated that the waterway is effectively closed in response to the conflict involving the United States and Israel, while Washington insists that international shipping routes remain open and that commercial vessels must be able to transit safely.

The narrow passage links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. Any disruption to shipping through the strait has the potential to affect global energy markets and international trade.

The US military said its latest operation was specifically intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten civilian shipping and commercial vessels operating in the area.

Military analysts are closely watching whether the latest exchange signals the start of a broader regional conflict or remains limited to reciprocal strikes.

The involvement of multiple countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman, highlights the increasingly regional nature of the confrontation, with US military facilities across the Gulf becoming potential targets for Iranian retaliation.

Diplomatic efforts that previously helped secure a temporary ceasefire now appear to have broken down, leaving uncertainty over whether further military action is likely in the coming days.

As Washington and Tehran continue to exchange military strikes and rhetoric hardens on both sides, governments around the world are monitoring developments closely amid fears that further escalation could threaten regional security and place additional pressure on global energy supplies.