US Strikes on Iran Retaliated: Missiles and Drones Hit Several Gulf States
Iran launched missile and drone attacks against several Gulf states on Sunday (12/7/2026) in retaliation for United States (US) military strikes on military targets in Iran. The attack marks the latest escalation in the conflict between Tehran and Washington, despite ongoing efforts to maintain a ceasefire.
According to Al Jazeera, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain reported missile or drone attacks from Iran. The attacks occurred just hours after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had struck around 140 military targets in Iran, including missile and drone launch sites, naval assets, and ammunition depots. Iranian state media reported that a military officer was killed in the strikes.
This latest escalation follows renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days. On Saturday (11/7/2026), Iran attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship. Subsequently, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the Strait of Hormuz was closed indefinitely and no vessels would be permitted to pass.
All member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with the exception of Saudi Arabia, reported intercepting missiles or drones fired by Iran.
In Qatar, the Ministry of Interior stated that three people, including a child, were injured by falling missile debris. The Qatari government strongly condemned the attack, calling it a dangerous escalation that could derail diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, the UAE government said its air defence systems were activated to counter missiles and drones from Iran. In a subsequent statement, UAE authorities noted that the missile threat was outside its national territory.
In Bahrain, missile attack warning sirens sounded for the third time on Sunday. The country hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
The Kuwaiti military also stated it successfully intercepted projectiles that entered its territory. Oman’s official news agency reported that a number of drones attacked several locations in Musandam Province, situated at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC claimed to have struck a US radar site in Kuwait and destroyed a command centre and drone hangar at a US military base in Jordan. However, Jordanian authorities stated that three Iranian missiles did fall within its territory but caused no casualties.
The escalating conflict has impacted shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which approximately 20 per cent of global energy exports passed before the war. The closure of the route has pushed global oil and gas prices to their highest levels in recent years.
Previously, Tehran had agreed to reopen the shipping lane following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Washington in mid-June. However, Iran still required vessels to transit routes designated by its government. Ships using other routes, particularly those closer to the coast of Oman, were reported to have been targeted.
US President Donald Trump ordered the strikes on Iran following attacks on ships in the region. Last week, Trump stated that the deal with Iran had ended, although he later admitted to agreeing to Tehran’s request to continue negotiations.
Amid rising tensions, Omani and Iranian officials stated that technical and political talks regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz would continue. However, Tehran has yet to commit to reopening the shipping lane without restrictions.