Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz following attack on Cypriot-flagged vessel

On July 12, 2026, the container ship M/V GFS Galaxy, sailing under the Cypriot flag, was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 9 nautical miles east of Oman. According to U.S. Central Command, the attack was carried out by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, causing a fire in the engine room and rendering the ship immobile. One crew member is reported missing, while the rest were rescued by local authorities after abandoning the vessel. Iran claimed the ship was targeted for following an unapproved route with its transponder disabled, eventually striking it with a cruise missile. In response to the incident, the U.S. launched a third wave of airstrikes against Iranian military positions, including targets in Sirik, Bandar Abbas, and Minab. Following the attack, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Iran would pay the price for this decision. Conflicting reports suggest additional Iranian strikes on U.S.-linked assets in Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar, though international monitoring remains focused on the status of the waterway.