Iran and United States clash over Strait of Hormuz, launching airstrikes and drone attacks

On July 12, the United States carried out a large‑scale air campaign against Iran, striking roughly 140‑300 Iranian targets including missile sites, air‑defence systems, drone bases and naval facilities, according to CENTCOM. The strikes were a response to an Iranian drone attack on the Cyprus‑flagged cargo ship M/V GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz, which caused fire, extensive damage and left an Indian crew member missing while the other 23 were rescued.

Iran retaliated by firing missiles and deploying drones at U.S. allies in the Gulf – Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman – injuring civilians, including three people in Qatar (one a child) and wounding a worker in Kuwait’s oil sector. Iranian forces also reported hits on U.S. assets in Kuwait, Oman and a radar site in Kuwait, as well as attacks on border outposts and an offshore oil platform in Kuwait.

Both sides warned that the Strait of Hormuz could remain closed until hostilities cease. The exchange has disrupted commercial navigation, raised regional security concerns and highlighted the risk to global oil shipments through the vital waterway.