On July 12, military tensions between the United States and Iran intensified as both sides launched fresh attacks across the Gulf, sparking fears of a broader regional conflict. The latest escalation comes 25 days after Washington and Tehran signed their Memorandum of Understanding and 134 days after the outbreak of the war. The US military launched strikes on Iranian military targets in response to an attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran claimed was a legitimate response to US aggression.
Iran retaliated by claiming missile and drone attacks on US military facilities across the Gulf, prompting several neighboring countries to activate their air defense systems. Kuwait intercepted hostile aerial targets over its airspace, with authorities assuring residents that explosion sounds were a result of air defense systems responding to the threats. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stopped a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, warning of a stronger response to any further military action by the US or Israel.
The IRGC also claimed to have targeted US-linked facilities in Oman, including logistics support centers and refueling facilities used by US aircraft carriers at the Port of Duqm. According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, this operation formed the third phase of Iran’s response to recent US strikes on Iranian territory. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed completing a third round of strikes against Iranian military infrastructure, striking around 140 targets, including missile and drone sites, naval assets, and ammunition storage facilities.
CENTCOM reported that over 300 military targets had been hit over three nights to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s military also launched drone attacks against US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, targeting a Patriot air defense system, an ammunition depot, radar facilities, and communications infrastructure used by US forces. The IRGC claimed to have targeted a Jordan airbase, further escalating the conflict.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf