Gulf tensions surge after Qeshm strikes

US forces said they defeated an overnight wave of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran towards Gulf states and civilian shipping, while carrying out self-defence strikes on military sites on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz.

The confrontation marked a sharp escalation in a conflict already threatening energy flows, maritime security and diplomatic efforts to contain hostilities across the Gulf. US Central Command said its forces intercepted Iranian projectiles and drones aimed at regional targets and commercial vessels, and denied claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that American bases had been hit.

The Iranian attacks targeted areas linked to US military presence in Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as shipping lanes around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit corridors. Kuwait said its air defences intercepted hostile projectiles, while Bahrain’s security posture was tightened after alerts linked to incoming threats. US officials said no American personnel were killed or wounded.

The US military described its strikes on Qeshm Island as defensive operations against radar, drone command and control infrastructure and launch-related facilities used by Iranian forces. Qeshm, located close to the narrow waterway separating Iran from the Arabian Peninsula, has long been viewed as strategically important because of its proximity to Gulf shipping routes and military activity around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the missile and drone launches were retaliation for US action against Iranian assets, including strikes on facilities near Qeshm and operations involving vessels in waters close to the Strait. Tehran also claimed to have targeted a vessel it linked to hostile activity, raising concern among shipping operators already navigating higher insurance costs, rerouting risks and security warnings.

The latest exchange came as diplomatic efforts to stabilise the conflict remained under strain. Washington has continued to frame its operations as defensive and focused on protecting US forces, partner states and maritime traffic. Tehran has accused the US of violating Iranian sovereignty and said it would respond to any further attacks on its territory or naval assets.

Commercial shipping has become increasingly exposed as the confrontation has widened from direct military exchanges to threats against tankers and merchant vessels. Any sustained disruption near Hormuz would carry wider consequences for crude oil, liquefied natural gas and refined fuel markets, with the waterway handling a significant share of seaborne energy exports from the Gulf.

Oil prices moved higher as traders assessed the risk of further disruption. The market reaction reflected concern that even limited strikes could trigger delays, higher freight costs and fresh pressure on energy-importing economies. Gulf producers, shipping firms and insurers are watching closely for signs that the confrontation could move from episodic clashes to a prolonged maritime security crisis.

The military balance in the Gulf remains shaped by US naval and air assets, air defence systems deployed across partner states, and Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, drones, fast attack craft and coastal defence systems. Iran has invested heavily in asymmetric capabilities designed to threaten shipping and complicate foreign military operations near its coastline.

Bahrain hosts the US Fifth Fleet, making it central to American naval operations in the region. Kuwait also hosts US forces and logistics facilities. That military footprint has made both countries potential targets during periods of confrontation between Washington and Tehran, even as Gulf governments seek to limit the risk of wider escalation on their territory.

No full ceasefire collapse has been formally declared, but the overnight exchange has weakened confidence in efforts to contain the fighting. Officials involved in diplomacy have continued to signal interest in talks, though the gap between US security demands and Iran’s insistence on sovereignty and sanctions relief remains substantial.

The latest hostilities also come against the backdrop of wider regional pressures, including tensions linked to Lebanon, Israel’s military operations, Iran-backed groups and the unresolved dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Each front has the potential to feed into the Gulf confrontation, especially if either side calculates that limited strikes can be used to strengthen its bargaining position.

For Gulf states, the immediate priority is preventing their territory and airspace from becoming a battlefield. Civil aviation, ports, energy infrastructure and military bases all face elevated risk when missiles and drones are launched across the region. Authorities are likely to maintain heightened surveillance and air defence readiness while urging restraint through diplomatic channels.