Iran strikes kill four as US bombs military sites for 13th night

The US conducted its 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets while Iran launched retaliatory drone attacks on US-allied bases in the Gulf, as President Trump threatened larger operations and announced plans to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for shipping damages. [1] Iran strikes have been reported across multiple locations inside the country, with four people killed and five injured near Ahvaz. [3]

Latest US Strikes on Iran

US Central Command reported strikes targeting Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities to degrade threats to civilian shipping. [1] The US military says it carried out strikes to degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian shipping in regional waters. [2] US Central Command said it had targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities. [1] On Thursday night, the US military says it carried out strikes to degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian shipping in regional waters. [1] US Central Command concluded its latest round of strikes against Iran at 01:00 GMT on Friday. [3] CENTCOM said it targeted Iranian military command centres, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities. [3] Iranian state media reported explosions across multiple locations including the Gulf coast, western, northern and central areas, with four people killed and five injured near Ahvaz in the southwest. [1] Explosions were reported along Iran's Gulf coast, and in western, northern and central areas. [1] Iranian media reported explosions or attacks across multiple Iranian cities. [3] State broadcaster IRIB reported that explosions were reported in Khondab, Khorramabad, Konarak and Jask. [3] Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that two people have been injured following an early morning drone attack on Khorramabad. [3] Iran’s Mehr news agency reported on Friday that US missile strikes hit the cities of Andimeshk and Omidiyeh in the Khuzestan province. [3] There were no casualties or injuries in those strikes. [3] Attacks on the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas have injured two people, Iranian media reported on Friday. [3] Al Jazeera’s Tohid Assidi reported from the Iranian capital, Tehran, that explosions were heard on Qeshm island, located in the Strait of Hormuz, on Friday. [3] Iranian state media have reported explosions in key military and commercial sites in the south of the country including the port city Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island. [2] Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Friday that four people were killed and five others were injured in a US missile attack near the southwestern city of Ahvaz. [3]

Iran's Retaliatory Attacks

US strikes target Iranian military sites as retaliatory attacks continue in the Gulf. — Source: myjoyonline Iran claimed drone strikes on US-allied bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, with sirens sounding in Bahrain and Jordan and a drone crash reported at Erbil International Airport in Iraq. [1] Iran says it has carried out drone strikes on US military facilities and bases across the Middle East in retaliation for the 13th consecutive night of American attacks on the country. [1] In a statement carried by Iran’s Mehr news agency, the Iranian army said it used drones to target fuel storage tanks, equipment warehouses and troop living quarters at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. [3] The military added that aircraft hangars, maintenance facilities and accommodation sites at the Muwaffaq Salti/Al-Azraq base in Jordan were also hit. [3] Bahrain's Interior Ministry reported that its air sirens had been sounded and Iranian state media also said alarms had been activated in Jordan. [1] The AFP and Reuters news agencies both reported a drone crash at Iraq's Erbil International Airport, causing a temporary stoppage. [1] Flights have since resumed. [1] Iran later announced strikes on US-allied Kuwait, while sirens sounded in Bahrain and Jordan, and flights were suspended at a major Iraqi airport after a reported drone crash. [1] Iran's army claimed it had launched attacks on US bases in Kuwait, while Bahrain's Interior Ministry reported that its air sirens had been sounded and Iranian state media also said alarms had been activated in Jordan. [1]

Trump's Statements on Assets and Escalation

Trump stated that damages to ships and cargo in the Strait of Hormuz would be paid using frozen Iranian assets controlled by the US, prompting Iran's foreign minister to warn it sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to chaos. [1] On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said damages to ships and cargo in the Strait of Hormuz would be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls. [1] These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do, he posted on his Truth Social platform. [1] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying that seizing another country's assets to pay for unrelated future claims is an incendiary precedent. [1] Ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful, he added. [1] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hit back at the threat that Trump called fair and equitable, calling it an incendiary precedent. [2] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Friday that using frozen state assets to pay for future claims sets a dangerous global precedent. [3] Seizing another nation’s assets to pay for unrelated future claims is an incendiary precedent, Araghchi wrote on X. [3] He cautioned that those who celebrate or profit from such funds should remember: once governments normalise confiscation, no one’s assets are safe. [3] Ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful. [3] Trump separately on Thursday vowed major military punishment against Iran for Houthi attacks. [1] He later told the Axios news website he was considering restarting major combat operations in Iran and launching strikes bigger than ever before. [1] Trump said he was considering a massive attack that would be bigger than ever before. [3] I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it, Trump said. [3]

Impact on Shipping and Oil Prices

Tanker crossings in the Strait of Hormuz fell to their lowest level since May, while oil prices rose above $100 per barrel amid concerns over Red Sea threats from Iran-backed Houthis. [1] Reuters news agency reported that only one tanker went through the Strait on Thursday 24 July, citing ship-tracking data, which they said was the lowest level of transit since 7 May. [2] The number of tanker crossings in the Strait of Hormuz dropped to the lowest levels in more than two months on Thursday. [3] Ship tracking data revealed that just one tanker successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, marking the lowest level since May 7. [3] As the US pushes to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz, there's growing concern over new threats to shipping in the Red Sea from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. [1] That has helped push the price of crude oil back over $100 a barrel - the highest level since May. [1] The latest strikes follow Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis' claim to have attacked two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and growing concerns over increasing threats to global shipping caused oil prices to spike. [2] But as the US pushes to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz, there's growing concern over new threats to shipping in the Red Sea from the Iran-backed Houthis. [2] That's helped push the price of crude oil back over $100 a barrel - the highest level since May. [2]

Collapse of the June Ceasefire Deal

The strikes follow the collapse of a June US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding that had aimed to halt operations and reopen the strait. [1] In June, the US and Iran agreed on a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding to halt military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as well as to reach an agreement to end the war over the following 60 days. [1] But three weeks after it was signed, Trump declared the ceasefire over after Iranian attacks on ships in the strait, and US strikes in response. [1] Point 11 of the MoU detailed that the United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran. [1] In June, the US and Iran agreed on a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding to halt military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as well as to reach an agreement to end the war over the following 60 days. [2] But three weeks after it was signed, Trump declared the ceasefire over after Iranian attacks on ships in Hormuz, and US strikes in response. [2] Point 11 of the MoU detailed that the United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran. [2]

Regional Reactions and Next Steps

Tensions have been escalating between the US and Iran since the start of July. [1] Trump had earlier promised major military punishment against Iran for attacks by the Houthis and Iran. [2] Trump told the US news website Axios that he may launch the largest strikes on Iran yet, after Tehran carried out another wave of retaliatory attacks on US allies in the Gulf, including hitting a telecommunications tower in Kuwait. [3] CENTCOM also said the Strait of Hormuz remained open for commercial vessels. [4] Iran's army claimed it had launched attacks on US bases in Kuwait. [1] What to watch next: Trump said he was considering restarting major combat operations in Iran and launching strikes bigger than ever before, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful. [1]