Key development: Iran launched a massive escalation by firing missiles at five Gulf countries and closing the Strait of Hormuz after the US conducted a second round of strikes—this is the widest regional attack yet in the conflict.
Military Operations
(Update) Iran fired missiles at five Gulf countries and closed the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has now spread across the entire region, with one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints shut down. (Al Jazeera, France 24, Euronews)
Context: After the US launched fresh strikes on Iran, Tehran responded by hitting Qatar (three people injured by falling shrapnel in Doha), UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman with missiles and drones. Euronews reporters in Qatar witnessed two separate waves of attacks with large explosions over Doha. Iran also set a container ship on fire in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of the world’s oil. UAE and Qatar are now actively using air defenses to intercept incoming Iranian fire. This represents a significant escalation from earlier strikes that targeted three countries—now it’s five, plus the strait closure.
Sources: Al Jazeera | Al Jazeera 2 | France 24 | Euronews
(Update) The US launched a second round of strikes targeting what Iran calls civilian infrastructure including railway bridges. Trump declared the ceasefire over at the NATO summit on July 8. (France 24)
Context: This is the second round of US strikes since Trump announced the ceasefire with Tehran was over. Iran is calling these attacks on railway bridges and other infrastructure “gross war crimes” and says they targeted civilian sites, not just military ones. France 24 reports that neither side wants full-scale war, but neither can back down without appearing weak.
Sources: France 24
US Policy
Lindsey Graham, one of the Senate’s most vocal hawks on Iran and strongest supporters of Israel, died suddenly at 71. He had been a major voice in foreign policy debates for decades. (Al Jazeera, Euronews)
Context: Graham died of a sudden illness, his office said. The South Carolina Republican had just returned from Ukraine where he met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. He was one of the most vocal senators pushing for aggressive US action in the Middle East and unwavering support for Israel.
Sources: Al Jazeera | Euronews
Regional Actors
[UNCONFIRMED] Qatar’s former emir Sheikh Hamad died at 74. He transformed Qatar from a small Gulf state into a major regional power. (Al Jazeera)
Context: Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and was the architect of its transformation into an energy superpower. He founded Al Jazeera, hosted the US military’s biggest base in the region, and made Qatar a key diplomatic player. Only one source reporting so far.
Sources: Al Jazeera
What to watch: Oil prices when markets open—the Strait of Hormuz closure could send them sharply higher given the waterway carries 20% of global oil supply.