The United States conducted another round of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military installations such as missile and drone launch sites, ammunition dumps, and communication equipment. These strikes, totaling around 140 targets in an initial wave and a subsequent round focusing on missile and air defense systems and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard boats, were in response to Iran's attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship, the M/V GFS Galaxy, in the Strait of Hormuz. The US stated its intent to degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial ships freely transiting the critical waterway.
Iran, however, declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until calm is restored and stated it would consider targeting “additional enemy bases in the region” if it faced more attacks. Its Revolutionary Guard asserted that vessels disregarded warnings and ignored instructions for an approved route, leading to a “warning shot” being fired at the GFS Galaxy. The US military, in contrast, maintained that the strait remained open, with over 140 ships transiting in the past week, albeit at reduced levels compared to the nearly 140 vessels daily before the conflict.
Following the US strikes, Iran retaliated by attacking Gulf Arab states. Qatar reported intercepting incoming Iranian fire, with explosions heard in the UAE and three people wounded. Kuwait's Defense Ministry noted damage to three border posts and an offshore drilling platform, injuring one worker. Bahrain, host to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, also experienced missile alerts, and three Iranian missiles struck areas in Jordan, causing minor damage. Oman, while also hit by drones, summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest the attacks, calling Iran’s actions “irresponsible.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial choke point, previously accounted for about one-fifth of all traded oil and natural gas. Iran's effective blockade has led to a global energy crisis, although oil prices have since dropped from wartime highs of $120 a barrel. The escalating violence threatens ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the war, with mediators like Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt continuing efforts to restore a ceasefire despite doubts from figures like President Donald Trump regarding the interim deal's viability.
The attack on the M/V GFS Galaxy resulted in significant engine room damage and one crew member, an Indian national, missing. Oman’s maritime authority rescued 23 crew members. The US has demanded that Iran publicly commit to stopping attacks on ships in the strait and ensuring all shipping lanes are open without tolls, emphasizing its military forces are positioned to ensure freedom of navigation.
