US and Iran clash in Strait of Hormuz, shipping halted

The United States and Iran have resumed hostilities over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, with reciprocal military strikes and conflicting declarations of control over the vital waterway shattering a fragile ceasefire and threatening a broader regional conflict. The renewed fighting, which escalated over the weekend of July 12-13, 2026, has led to a near-total halt in commercial shipping through the strait and triggered a surge in global oil prices.

The latest escalation began after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz on July 12. The vessel sustained significant damage and caught fire, forcing its crew to abandon ship. Omani authorities rescued 23 crew members, but one Indian national remains missing. In response, U.S. Central Command launched a major series of strikes targeting approximately 140 Iranian military sites, including missile and drone launch facilities, naval assets, and communication networks.

Hours after the U.S. strikes, Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting several Gulf nations that host American forces. Reports indicated strikes in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman,...