Iran Strikes US Allies in Kuwait Bahrain and Qatar as Khamenei Burial Proceeds

Iran strikes on US allies in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar unfolded on July 9, 2026, as Iran laid to rest its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad amid fresh exchanges of attacks with the United States that killed at least 17 people and targeted sites including a nuclear plant perimeter, a railway line and US-allied bases, raising fears of renewed all-out war. [1]

Burial of Khamenei Amid Renewed Fighting

The burial took place on July 9, 2026, in Mashhad as both the US and Iran launched fresh attacks. [1] Vehicle transports carried the coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and coffins of his family members on the day of his burial in a culmination of a mass funeral. [1] In tumultuous scenes, Khamenei's coffin was carried aloft into the shrine in his home city of Mashhad in eastern Iran as a vast sea of people waited outside and listened to prayers but with still no sign of his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei appearing in public. [1] The burial came on the second day of attacks between the decades-old foes, with Iranian officials reporting that US strikes killed 17 people and state media saying one targeted a railway line between Tehran and Mashhad, where Khamenei's burial is being held. [1] Khamenei was killed alongside close family members on the first day of the US-Israeli war against Iran on Feb 28. [1] The last of a marathon six days of funeral ceremonies, Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad was being closely watched for signs of his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since being appointed. [1] Parliament speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the US, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, powerful chief justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Khamenei's eldest son Mostafa Khamenei were all present at the shrine, with some senior figures weeping over Khamenei's coffin, state TV images showed. [1] But as on other days of the funeral process there was no sign of Mojtaba Khamenei, who since being named has only communicated through written statements and is said to have been wounded in the February 28 strikes. [1] The area around the shrine of Imam Reza was still bustling with a huge crowd in the evening, to the sound of religious chants, as the burial ceremony went on late into the night. [1] Crowds of men and women clad in black, many urging vengeance against US President Donald Trump, had massed in Mashhad against the backdrop of slogans including: "Hey Trump we will kill you," written in English. [1] Such were the crowds that the body was to be transferred by helicopter to a holy shrine for burial, state television said. [1] In a sign of the security tensions, at least one fighter jet escorted the plane carrying Khamenei's coffin to its final burial in Mashhad. [1]

US Strikes Target Iranian Infrastructure

The United States earlier on Thursday targeted the perimeter of Iran's only civilian nuclear plant with a strike, Iranian state media reported, citing the deputy governor of Bushehr province. [1] Iranian state media reported Thursday that a projectile hit a military headquarters on the outskirts of Bushehr but a US defence official said that the US military was not currently carrying out any strikes on Iran. [1] State media said the US targeted a section of the Tehran-Mashhad railway 55 kilometres from Mashhad, forcing the closure of the line. [1] Passengers were transferred to buses. [1] Explosions were heard in the coastal areas of Iran, with at least three people killed and 15 wounded in a US attack on the Iranian coastal city of Sirik. [2] Iranian state media also reported explosions in the coastal area of Bandar Abbas where air defences were activated. [2] Two explosions were heard near the port city of Bushehr in southern Iran. [2] Three explosions were reported in the city of Konarak. [2] US military struck 2 railway bridges in northern Iran on Wednesday. [4] Iranian reports indicated that US strikes hit the perimeter of Iran's only civilian nuclear power plant in Bushehr province, a section of the Tehran-Mashhad railway 55 km from Mashhad, and other coastal targets, with Iranian reports of 17 deaths. [1]

Mourners carry Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's coffin during his burial in Mashhad on July 9 2026. — Source: gdelt

Iranian Retaliation Against US Allies

Iran's army said it had targeted a Patriot missile interceptor system in Kuwait, an early warning system in Qatar and fuel tanks in Bahrain with drones, as part of its attacks on US bases in the region. [1] A US defence official said the dozens of missiles and drones fired by Iran were either intercepted or caused no significant damage, with no injuries to American personnel. [1] Sirens blared in Jordan, another US ally, where the military said it had intercepted eight missiles launched from Iran. [1] As a result of launching 10 ballistic missiles, an enemy command and control center in the Middle East and Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan were hit, according to a statement from the IRGC. [2] Iran responded with drone and missile attacks on a Patriot system in Kuwait, an early warning system in Qatar, fuel tanks in Bahrain, and a command center plus Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan; most were intercepted with no US injuries. [1]

Strait of Hormuz Clashes and Shipping Disruptions

The Iranian military hit at least three ships in recent days, prompting extensive US strikes against Iranian targets from Tuesday. [1] Traffic through the strait has fallen sharply since Wednesday, especially through the UN-backed Omani route, according to data from maritime tracking firm Kpler, after vessels were attacked earlier this week. [1] Traffic on oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz today has almost completely stopped. [2] In the early morning hours only two tankers passed through the strait. [2] Among them is the super tanker for crude oil transport Berg 1, loaded on the Iranian island of Kharg and under US sanctions, as well as the chemical tanker Well Sail under the flag of the Marshall Islands. [2] Gulf Cooperation Council countries accused Iran of threatening global energy security. [2] The GCC issued a statement on the recent clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Iran's attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz pose a threat to global energy security and international trade. [2] The statement called on the UN Security Council to take a firm stance to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and held Iran responsible for the attacks, demanding that it immediately and unconditionally cease all hostilities. [2]

Israeli Warnings and Regional Fallout

Following Israel's June 2025 war against Iran and this year's conflict, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned at a military ceremony on Thursday that Israel was prepared to attack Iran for a "third time" if needed, vowing to do so "with even greater force". [1] "We are preparing for every scenario," added Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. [1] Israeli officials warned they are prepared to attack Iran a third time with greater force if needed. [1] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned against any further US military "adventurism" after condemning US attacks on Iran as a violation of the memorandum of understanding from Islamabad during a telephone conversation with the chief of the Pakistani army. [2] Iran's parliamentary commission for national security stated it has many options not used even in the 40-day war, including withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, changing the nuclear doctrine and closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in addition to the Strait of Hormuz. [2]

Political Context and Funeral Observances

Millions of people flooded the streets leading to the shrine of Imam Reza in the Iranian city of Mashhad to bid farewell to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei before he was buried in that shrine in his hometown. [2] The plane carrying the bodies of the late leader and members of his family arrived at Shahid Hashemi Nejad International Airport in Mashhad before the final funeral procession and burial ceremony. [2] The arrival of the plane came after a delay caused by the massive turnout in Iraq, where millions of people participated in farewell ceremonies in the cities of Najaf and Karbala. [2] Mojtaba Khamenei, the appointed successor, did not appear publicly at the burial and is said to have been wounded in the February strikes. [1] Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was advised by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps not to attend any of the events of the funeral ceremony of his father. [2] The source stated that during the burial itself, "members of the Ayatollah's household" will be present. [2] Ali Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb 28. [2]

What to watch next: Israeli officials stated they remain prepared for every scenario while Iranian parliamentary figures indicated consideration of options including withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and changes to nuclear doctrine if further US actions occur.