US airstrikes on Iran and Iranian retaliation in Gulf
The United States carried out several waves of airstrikes on Iran early Monday, hitting roughly 140 military targets—including missile sites, drone launch facilities, ammunition depots and communications nodes—after Tehran’s attack on a commercial container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said, “The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade.” President Donald Trump defended the operation, stating, “We bombed the hell out of them last night.”
In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at U.S. and allied bases across the Gulf region, striking locations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Air‑defence systems in Bahrain and Kuwait intercepted the projectiles; no immediate casualties were reported. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed the retaliatory actions, while regional leaders warned of further escalation.
The conflict has also prompted a joint statement from the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirming the right of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and condemning attacks on commercial vessels. Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude briefly rising nearly 10% before easing as the situation stabilized.