U.S. and Iran trade strikes on Gulf bases and infrastructure

In mid‑July 2026 the Iran Revolutionary Guard announced a series of retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region. It said a U.S. military base in Kuwait was set on fire after the United States allegedly hit Iranian civilian infrastructure, claiming hits on a missile‑defence radar, ammunition depots and HIMARS launchers. Iran also reported missile and drone attacks on Qatar’s Al‑Udeid air base, Bahrain’s Fifth Fleet base, and on oil‑refinery sites, while saying it hit radar systems in Kuwait.

At the same time the United States expanded its air campaign against Iran, targeting bridges in Hormozgan Province and a port surveillance tower in Chabahar, killing at least seven civilians and damaging key transport links. The U.S. Central Command said it struck dozens of Iranian military sites, marking the sixth consecutive night of attacks. Both sides reported casualties and warned that continued fighting could further disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and regional energy supplies.