Iran fired missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain early Sunday morning in retaliation for US strikes that targeted approximately 140 Iranian military sites, marking a dangerous escalation in the conflict despite fragile ceasefire efforts.
The Iranian barrage came hours after US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had struck about 140 military targets across Iran, including missile and drone launch sites, naval assets, and ammunition storage facilities. The attack was the third major round of US strikes in one week, bringing the total to roughly 310 American strikes over that period, according to the New York Times.
In Qatar, the Ministry of Interior reported that three people, including one child, were injured by falling shrapnel from intercepted missiles and drones. The United Arab Emirates said its air defense system engaged with incoming threats, though authorities later stated the missile threats were outside its borders. Kuwait’s military reported intercepting incoming fire, while missile alerts sounded for the third time on Sunday in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. Oman’s state news agency said drones targeted several sites in the sultanate’s Musandam governorate, an exclave in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it targeted a US radar site in Kuwait and destroyed a command-and-control center and drone hangars at a US base in Jordan. Jordan’s authorities said three Iranian missiles fell without causing casualties. Iranian state media reported that one army officer was killed in the US strikes.
Strait of Hormuz Closure and Maritime Tensions
Hours before the Iranian attacks, the IRGC announced that the Strait of Hormuz—a strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of global energy exports once passed—was “closed until further notice.” The closure came after Iran attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship on Saturday. According to Al Jazeera, Tehran said the strait would remain closed until “the end of U.S. interference in this region.”
The narrow strait sits in the territorial waters of Iran and Oman but has long been considered an international waterway. Since the US and Israeli strikes initiated the war in late February 2026, Iran has effectively controlled the bottleneck by attacking vessels that attempt to use shipping lanes it has not approved. In mid-June, Iran signed a memorandum of understanding with Washington allowing resumed traffic through the strait, but only along routes Iran designated. Ships attempting alternative routes closer to the Omani coast have been targeted, pushing oil and gas prices to multiyear highs.
The latest violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire framework. US President Donald Trump, focused on lowering energy prices ahead of midterm elections in November, has ordered strikes on Iran following attacks on shipping. Last week, Trump claimed the deal with Iran was “over,” though he later said he had consented to Tehran’s request to continue negotiations. Despite Sunday’s exchanges, Omani and Iranian officials said they would continue technical and political talks over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, although Tehran stopped short of committing to unrestricted passage.
All Gulf Cooperation Council states except Saudi Arabia reported intercepting Iranian missiles or drones. Qatar’s government strongly condemned the renewed aggressions, calling them a “dangerous escalation” that will undermine diplomacy. The latest attacks demonstrate how quickly tensions can reignite in a conflict that has already killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in late February strikes by the US and Israel.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, casualties in Qatar, IRGC claims, Strait of Hormuz closure announcement, and diplomatic efforts
- US Central Command (CENTCOM) — Confirmation of 140 military targets struck in latest round of operations
- Reuters — Iran’s declaration of Strait of Hormuz closure and missile/drone attack details
- The New York Times — Total of 310 American strikes over one week and ceasefire status
- The Guardian — Live coverage of Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and Trump’s claims about Strait of Hormuz
