US and Iran trade strikes over Strait of Hormuz control

The United States and Iran escalated military operations over the weekend of July 12–13, 2026, in a conflict centred on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping corridor. The US launched strikes against dozens of Iranian military targets on Sunday night, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), with the stated goal of degrading Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels transiting the waterway. President Donald Trump authorised the strikes, which included the first use of one-way attack sea drones in the conflict. Iran responded with a wave of drone and missile attacks targeting US military bases across the region, including facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

The escalation reflects a fundamental dispute over maritime access. Iran has fired on commercial vessels it claims were using unauthorised routes through the strait, while asserting its right to influence traffic as leverage in negotiations. The US insists the waterway remains open for international shipping and seeks to prevent Iran from weaponising the channel. A fragile 60-day negotiating window between the two nations is now threatened by the flare-up, and mediation efforts over the weekend failed to resolve the standoff. At least one security guard was killed in southwestern Iran during the US strikes, with four others wounded.

Regional US allies bore the brunt of Iranian retaliation. Kuwait's military reported intercepting hostile aerial targets, and sirens were activated in Bahrain after Iranian attacks targeted the Isa Air Base. Jordan's military intercepted four missiles it said were launched from Iranian territory. Iranian state media claimed the strikes destroyed fuel storage tanks, Patriot air defence systems, and missile depots at bases in Kuwait and Jordan, though CNN could not independently verify these reports.

Oil markets responded immediately to the escalation, with Brent crude rising 3.92 per cent to $78.99 a barrel and US crude climbing 3.44 per cent to $73.87 a barrel on Sunday. Analysts note that while neither side appears to seek full-scale war, the conflict has shifted from a purely military contest to an economic struggle for control of one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. Iran views control of the strait as more valuable than nuclear leverage, according to senior Iranian officials, while the Trump administration is motivated by the need to stabilise oil prices ahead of November midterm elections.