Iran Strikes US Military Targets in Gulf States, Shattering Ceasefire

A fragile three-week-old ceasefire between Iran and the United States has shattered after Iranian armed forces launched a wave of attacks against U.S. military infrastructure in multiple Gulf states, according to Iranian state media. The retaliatory strikes sharply escalate a months-long conflict that has already roiled global energy markets.

Tit-for-Tat Attacks Erupt Across Region

Iran's army announced it had launched attacks on several U.S. military assets in response to recent American airstrikes on its territory. The targeted sites reportedly include:

• U.S. Patriot missile systems in Kuwait
• An early-warning facility in Qatar
• A U.S. Army fuel depot in Bahrain
• The Azraq military base in Jordan, which is used by U.S. forces

Kuwaiti authorities confirmed their armed forces engaged a cruise missile, three ballistic missiles, and 10 drones, with one person injured by falling shrapnel. Jordan also reported intercepting eight missiles after sirens sounded, with no damage reported, according to its state news agency.

The Iranian action follows strikes by U.S. Central Command on what it described as approximately 90 Iranian military targets. A U.S. official stated the strikes were in retribution for recent Iranian attacks on commercial shipping vessels. Iranian state media reported the U.S. attacks killed 14 people and injured 78.

Oil Markets on Edge Over Strait of Hormuz

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The renewed hostilities sent a fresh wave of uncertainty through energy markets. Oil prices, which had initially spiked on concerns of a wider conflict, later fell back on Thursday. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that handled about a fifth of global oil supplies before the war, remains a central point of contention.

Conflicting narratives have emerged over control of the vital waterway. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy claims that vessel traffic under its supervision has recovered to about 50% of pre-war levels. In contrast, the U.S. military stated Thursday it has facilitated the transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil since early May, insisting that Iran does not control the strait.

Diplomatic Channels Under Strain

The escalation effectively ends a truce that had provided a brief respite in the conflict. While a U.S. official, cited by Reuters, stated that "technical talks continue" with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire "over" on his Truth Social platform.

Regional powers, including Qatar, Turkey, and Oman, have called for a return to diplomacy to avoid further military escalation. The attacks coincided with the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose funeral processions drew massive crowds and anti-American demonstrations.