Escalation in hostilities between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz

Between July 11 and 12, 2026, tensions spiked as US forces conducted consecutive nights of airstrikes against Iranian infrastructure. The US Central Command stated these operations targeted air defense systems, radar sites, missile capabilities, and naval vessels to ensure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. These strikes followed an attack on the Cyprus-flagged vessel GFS Galaxy, which left one Indian seafarer missing near Oman. Iran reported strikes on military targets in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and Khuzestan, while also claiming to have launched retaliatory attacks against US-linked military facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE. While the US asserts the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial traffic, Iran maintains the passage is closed until further notice. Shipping data indicates a multi-week low in vessel transit, with oil prices spiking in response to the instability. International officials and regional governments, including Qatar and Oman, have condemned the attacks as dangerous escalations.