Unclaimed airstrikes hit southern Iran, Tehran warns Gulf

A series of unclaimed airstrikes struck southern Iran on July 9, 2026, creating fresh uncertainty and escalating regional tensions just as the country was preparing to bury its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attacks, which targeted areas including Bushehr and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces and the cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar, occurred shortly after the U.S. military announced it had completed its own operations.

U.S. Central Command stated on the morning of July 9 that it had concluded a round of strikes hitting approximately 90 targets in Iran. It did not comment on the subsequent, unexplained explosions reported across southern Iran. No country has claimed responsibility for these later strikes. Israel, which had participated in the broader conflict against Iran but had not launched an attack since June, also did not claim the operations.

In response to the day's events, Iran launched a wider wave of missile attacks across the Middle East, targeting Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar. Air raid sirens were activated in those nations, and one person was reportedly injured in Kuwait during the interceptions. Following the Iranian retaliation, United Arab...