US attacks southern Iran, as Tehran hits Gulf countries: What’s the latest?

What Happened

For the sixth consecutive night, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted major strikes on southern Iran, hitting at least six bridges, a railway station, and power infrastructure in Hormozgan province according to Iranian media. The attacks caused power outages and killed at least eight people, bringing Iran's claimed death toll since June 22 to 38, with over 400 injured. In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed a 13th wave of strikes against U.S. bases and regional targets: air raid sirens in Bahrain, intercepted projectiles over Doha that injured one child from shrapnel, destruction of a U.S. air control radar in Oman and a maritime radar in the Strait of Hormuz, strikes on a U.S. base in Kuwait including HIMARS launchers, three Iranian missiles shot down by Jordanian air defenses, and an attack on the al-Tanf base in Syria. An Iranian military spokesperson declared the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its pre-war state.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The escalation marks a direct U.S.-Iran military confrontation expanding beyond Iranian territory into multiple Gulf states, threatening the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global energy chokepoint—and drawing in regional nations through missile and drone attacks. The widening conflict risks disrupting maritime shipping and could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts, while placing U.S. allies under direct fire.

Watch For

Monitor CENTCOM announcements on further strikes and IRGC claims of additional retaliation; watch for damage to oil tankers or U.S. assets in the Gulf. Follow statements from Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan on defensive responses, and track any diplomatic initiatives, including the 60-day negotiation period that began on June 22.