Iran targets Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain after fresh US strikes
Iran has launched renewed attacks on US Gulf allies following a week of US military strikes on Iranian infrastructure. The escalation threatens regional stability and global oil supplies as both nations test the limits of a collapsed ceasefire.
Why it matters
The conflict risks a full-scale war in the Middle East, which could severely disrupt global energy markets and impact US political stability ahead of upcoming elections.
Iran launched renewed attacks on US Gulf allies on Saturday (local time) after a seventh straight night of US strikes targeting Iranian military sites including logistics infrastructure, escalating the war one week after a fragile ceasefire agreement fell apart.
Both sides also took aim at shipping traffic, with the US saying it was enforcing a naval blockade while Iran said it targeted vessels that violated its rules on navigating the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for one-fifth of the world's oil supply.
This screen grab taken from video footage released on July 16, 2026 by Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)'s Sepah News website shows a missile being launched from an undisclosed location towards US targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
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