Escalation in the Gulf: US strikes Iran again as Tehran targets Gulf shipping

The United States conducted a multi-hour air campaign against Iran late Monday, the third consecutive night of strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf against US allies and assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and the UAE, including attacks on UAE‑flagged oil tankers with casualties reported. Iran also claimed drone and missile strikes against US facilities; Washington announced a maritime blockade of Iranian ports, and oil prices spiked as shipping through Hormuz was disrupted.