Missile attacks lit up the Middle East sky this weekend, ending a fragile peace. On the night of July 12, the United States military launched major strikes against about 140 Iranian targets, including air defenses and drone facilities. This marked a significant end to a short pause in fighting.
Iran quickly responded. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired projectiles at American military bases in several Gulf countries. In Bahrain, defense systems intercepted drones. An oil facility and border checkpoints in Kuwait were hit, injuring one worker. Jordan also had to shoot down four Iranian weapons that entered its airspace.
The conflict also affected neutral countries. Oman, which often helps with diplomacy between the US and Iran, had its radar equipment targeted. Omani officials asked for a meeting with Iran's representative and made a formal complaint. Iranian government sources reported that two people were killed in the American strikes.
The main issue is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway. Before the war, about one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passed through it. Now, both countries are fighting for control. Iran announced the waterway was closed until American forces left the area.
The US rejected this, stating that the Strait of Hormuz remains an international waterway and US forces will keep it open. President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade on Iran and said commercial ships would pay for military protection. He called it "THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE," meant to stop only Iranian ships.
This violence ended a 60-day truce signed in June, which was meant to lead to talks about Iran's nuclear program. Trump declared the deal dead, accusing Iran of breaking its terms. Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, disagreed, saying the agreement allowed Iran to manage ship traffic. He warned that Iran would make others pay if they did not keep their word.
The global economy is affected, with oil prices rising. Ship traffic in the strait has decreased significantly. The US recently stopped a permit allowing Iranian oil sales. The US military also used attack sea drones in combat for the first time.
This conflict is part of a larger war that began when a US and Israeli operation killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His successor has vowed revenge, and President Trump has warned of Iran's total destruction if he is attacked. With ongoing strikes, peace seems distant.