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United States Strikes Iran, Iran Attacks US Bases After Merchant Ship Incident

12 July, 2026.USA.23 sources

Key Takeaways

IRGC closed the Strait of Hormuz to all traffic until further notice.
U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran, targeting about 140 sites.
Iran retaliated with attacks on U.S. military bases across Gulf states.

US strikes, Iran retaliates

The United States and Iran exchanged the heaviest fire in months on Sunday, with the U.S. launching a significant new air assault on Iranian military targets overnight and saying it struck about 140 sites. Iran responded with a wave of attacks targeting US military bases in the region, escalating a diplomatic breakdown between the countries. The exchange followed what the US said was an Iranian attack on a merchant ship in the waterway, where Washington and Tehran are making contradictory claims about the status of marine traffic. CNN reported that Iranian state media said military facilities on Qeshm Island and in the cities of Bandar Abbas and Hajiabad came under attack Sunday afternoon and evening local time, with the reports referring only to “enemy” strikes. The BBC said the renewed fire put in jeopardy an interim ceasefire agreement signed last month aimed to reopen the Strait and eventually bring a permanent end to the conflict.

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