The United States carried out new military strikes on Iranian missile and air‑defence systems positioned around the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, escalating a rapidly widening confrontation triggered by Tehran’s attack on a commercial container ship in the strategic waterway. According to US officials cited by Axios, American forces targeted IRGC‑operated missile batteries, air‑defence units and fast‑attack boats across multiple locations to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten global shipping.
The container vessel, which caught fire during the Iranian assault, left one crew member injured and prompted Washington’s retaliation. The strikes have pushed the already fragile US–Iran interim peace framework to the brink, with diplomats warning that the conflict is now expanding beyond the immediate maritime zone.
Iran responded by launching retaliatory attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman, signalling a dramatic widening of the confrontation. The inclusion of Oman, traditionally a mediator between Tehran and Washington, has raised alarm among regional analysts who say the conflict is entering a dangerous phase.
Iranian state media reported that 10–11 projectiles struck military targets on Qeshm Island on Sunday afternoon. Local officials said all impacted sites were military installations and no casualties were reported. Explosions were also heard in Bandar Abbas and Hajibabad, underscoring the intensity of the exchange.
The United Nations has appealed for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged both sides to return to diplomacy, warning that the fighting threatens global energy supplies and regional stability. The Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for nearly a fifth of the world’s oil — remains at the centre of international concern.
Washington says its latest operation is aimed at preventing further Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, while Tehran insists its actions are retaliation for US strikes earlier in the week.