Iran launched missile and drone attacks across the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain on July 12, striking back hours after the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) struck approximately 140 military targets across Iran, including missile and drone launch sites, naval assets, and ammunition storage facilities.
The Iranian barrage came in response to US strikes triggered by an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that left one crew member missing and set the vessel ablaze, according to The Washington Post.
The latest exchange marked the most serious escalation since Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was laid to rest this week following his death in February US-Israeli airstrikes. The funeral, which drew millions of mourners to Tehran, concluded just days before the renewed hostilities.
All Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states except Saudi Arabia reported intercepting Iranian missiles or drones, according to Al Jazeera. In Qatar, the Ministry of Interior reported that three people, including one child, were injured by falling shrapnel. The gas-rich nation condemned the attacks as a “dangerous escalation” that would undermine diplomatic efforts.
In Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, missile alerts sounded for the third time on Sunday. Kuwait’s military said it was intercepting incoming fire. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it targeted a US radar site in Kuwait and destroyed a command-and-control centre and drone hangars at a US base in Jordan. Authorities in Jordan reported that three Iranian missiles fell without causing casualties, per Al Jazeera.
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly a fifth of global energy exports passed before the conflict began in February—was “closed until further notice,” declaring no vessels would be allowed to transit. The move came after Iran and Oman’s foreign ministers met on Saturday to discuss maritime traffic issues in the narrow waterway.
The closure represents a critical pressure point in ongoing negotiations. In mid-June, Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to allow traffic resumption, though Iran insisted vessels use a route it had approved to maintain control. Ships attempting different shipping lanes closer to Oman’s coast have faced attacks.
US President Donald Trump, focused on lowering energy prices ahead of crucial midterm elections in November, has ordered strikes on Iran following shipping attacks. Last week, Trump said the deal with Iran was “over,” though he later stated he had consented to a request from Tehran to continue negotiations, according to Al Jazeera.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — provided details on Iranian attacks across Gulf states, casualty reports in Qatar, IRGC claims, and diplomatic context regarding the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations
- The Washington Post — reported on the US strikes and the container ship attack in the Strait of Hormuz that triggered the escalation
- AP News — confirmed Iran’s funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Khamenei and the timeline of his death in February
