Arabic version: واشنطن تنفذ غارات ليلية؛ إيران تستهدف الشحن والقواعد
The United States carried out strikes on Iran for a third consecutive night, US Central Command said, aiming to degrade Iran’s capacity to attack civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the latest round began at 4:45pm ET and lasted five hours, with military targets hit in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas. Iranian state media reported explosions across the southern coast, on Kish and Qeshm islands, and in the town of Jam in Bushehr province; a projectile that struck western Bandar Abbas caused no casualties.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran responded with a broader campaign across the Gulf. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck “violating” vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s Tasnim agency reported that two UAE‑flagged oil tankers were hit in Omani waters, with one Indian crew member killed and eight others wounded. Iranian forces reported shooting down a US‑made drone near Bandar Abbas, and the Iranian army said it launched drones at US military targets in Kuwait, including a Patriot missile system, fuel tanks, a watchtower, an ammunition depot and communications systems.
Iranian statements also said the IRGC hit weapons storage depots, a satellite communications centre and a building housing US forces at al‑Juffair base in Bahrain, and struck the US Fifth Fleet with missiles and drones; air sirens were reported in Bahrain four times. Jordan’s army reported shooting down four missiles fired from Iran, and Iranian forces said they launched ballistic missiles at US forces and facilities at a Jordanian airbase while stating the operation was aimed at the US military presence rather than at Jordan.
This sequence of strikes matters to readers because it has immediate effects on regional security and commerce: oil prices rose more than 9 percent, with Brent crude near $81 a barrel, and ship‑tracking firm Kpler reported crossings through the Strait of Hormuz fell by about 52 percent between July 10 and July 12 compared with the previous week. The US Navy‑led Joint Maritime Information Centre confirmed a US blockade is due to begin, which covers Iran’s ports and terminals along the entire southern coastline.
US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress that fighting with Iran had resumed on July 7 and invoked authority to keep US forces in combat for another 60 days. Iranian parliamentarians have introduced a bill to manage the Strait of Hormuz and warned of defending red lines. What happens next: the US blockade is due to begin at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday, covering Iran’s ports and terminals along the southern coastline, according to JMIC.
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