US completes another round of strikes on Iran, Gulf countries under attack

The US military has struck Iran's coastal defences and missile sites as Kuwait responded to Iranian attacks while Bahrain activated its sirens early on Thursday.

In a social media post on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated it ended an evening wave of strikes against Iran at 9 p.m. ET on July 15.

Iranian command centers, air defence sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities were targeted by the US military in efforts to reduce Iran's ability to "threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz", the military announced. 

Earlier this morning, American forces struck coastal defense and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island during a 90-minute wave," it added. 

Kuwaiti military forces stated they are responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks after reporting the interception of four missiles and 21 drones from Iran on Wednesday in an attack that caused material damage but no injuries.

Meanwhile, Bahrain has alerted the public to remain safe as it activated its sirens across the country. 

https://t.co/8lYsAIspma

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 16, 2026

The latest escalation comes days after a fragile truce collapsed, raising the specter of a return to full-scale war, though analysts generally see that as less likely.

Hostilities have intensified since Iran said late on Saturday it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Military operations are also keeping ships from transiting the vital artery, which carried about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the war. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, closed at a one-month high of $84.95 a barrel on Wednesday.

Three US officials told Reuters that US strikes aimed at forcing open the Strait are also targeting Iranian military capabilities the US would want to destroy before executing more complex operations.

The US military also said it disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward Iran's Kharg Island after it ignored multiple warnings, firing Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack.

Since resuming a naval blockade against Iran on Tuesday, the US has redirected two ships and disabled another, the military said.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN WANTS TO SETTLE

Trump struck a triumphant note, as he has repeatedly since the US and Israel started hostilities on February 28, saying, "We'll have Iran defeated soon. They'll be defeated very soon."

Speaking at a roundtable event at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, Trump also claimed the Iranians want to "settle so badly."

"They don't like what we're doing, and they do want to settle. We'll find out whether or not we settle with them, or we just finish it off," Trump said.

On Tuesday, Trump said US negotiators had been in touch with their Iranian counterparts to tell them "you better make a deal."

Even amid the hostilities, there was a possible sign of goodwill. Trump said Iran had allowed an American who was "wrongfully detained" under the Biden administration in 2024 to leave the country.

"The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Human rights attorney Jared Genser identified the released American as Dena Karari, who had been prevented from leaving Iran since December 2024.

"Dena is now safe and traveling back to the United States," Genser wrote on X, thanking Trump for his efforts to free her.