The U.S. military said two service members were killed and a third was missing after an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan on Friday. U.S. Central Command said the base was targeted with ballistic missiles and drones. Four other American troops were wounded and treated at Jordanian hospitals before being discharged.

The deaths could trigger a major U.S. response as both sides intensify attacks on critical infrastructure. Iranian state media reported damage to bridges, roads and a desalination plant in southern Iran. Kuwait said an electricity and water-treatment facility, as well as an oil installation, had been hit, causing fires, injuries and heavy material losses.

Air-raid sirens continued to sound in Bahrain, while Jordan’s military said it had intercepted 10 Iranian ballistic missiles overnight. The confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz also remains unresolved. Iran has blocked the key route for global oil and gas shipments, while the United States has reinstated its own blockade of Iranian ports, pushing the conflict towards a wider regional war.

Details:

• U.S. casualties: Two service members were killed and a third was reported missing. Four others were wounded and treated in Jordan.
• Nature of the attack: Iranian ballistic missiles and drones targeted the U.S. base in Jordan.
• War toll: The number of American service members killed in the conflict has risen to 16.
• Iranian strikes: Tehran has targeted Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, including Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as Jordan.
• Kuwait damage: The government said an electricity and water-treatment facility was attacked for a second consecutive day, while an oil facility was also hit.
• U.S. strikes: The American military said its overnight attacks targeted surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities.
• Damage in Iran: Iranian media reported damage to bridges, roads and a desalination plant in Jask, leaving about 10,000 people facing water shortages.
• Tehran’s position: Iranian officials accused Washington of violating the cease-fire agreement and called President Trump’s signature on the memorandum “worthless and invalid”.
• Mediators’ response: Qatar condemned the Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, while Pakistan called for de-escalation.
• Strait of Hormuz: The exchange of strikes has not resolved the standoff over the waterway, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments.

What to Watch:

Attention is now focused on the scale of the U.S. response to the deaths and whether Washington will expand its strikes on Iran or target additional facilities across the region. The prospects for renewed negotiations remain limited as both sides accuse the other of violating the truce and attacks continue against infrastructure and neighbouring states.

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Summary

1- Four Kuwaiti navy personnel were injured in a new wave of Iranian attacks on the country.
2- The attacks involved five cruise missiles, one ballistic missile and 33 drones, according to Kuwait’s Defense Ministry.
3- The barrage marked the highest number of projectiles and injuries in a single day since Kuwait International Airport was attacked in June.

The latest

Four Kuwaiti navy personnel were injured in a new wave of Iranian attacks as the United States resumed its blockade on shipping to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said the attacks involved five cruise missiles, one ballistic missile and 33 drones. They targeted vital and civilian institutions that the military did not identify. Debris fell in several locations and caused damage.

The four service members were injured when a Kuwaiti navy vessel was struck. The barrage produced the highest daily number of projectiles and injuries since the second attack on Kuwait International Airport in June, which killed one person and injured more than 60 others.

Details

• Critical infrastructure: Military bases, oil refineries, Kuwait Petroleum Corp.’s headquarters, the airport and other vital facilities have faced repeated attacks during the war.
• Oil platform: A drone targeted an offshore Kuwait Oil Co. drilling platform earlier in the week, causing damage and injuring one worker.
• Border sites: Attacks on three locations along Kuwait’s northern border caused material damage.
• Attack toll: Kuwait has faced at least 16 attacks since the United States and Iran agreed to a truce on April 8.
• Regional casualties: Kuwait has recorded more casualties than any other Gulf Arab country during that period.
• U.S. presence: Kuwait hosts thousands of American military personnel at five bases, including Ali Al-Salem, which has been repeatedly struck since the war began in February.
• Truce collapse: Attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and on countries including Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain resumed after the ceasefire collapsed.
• U.S. action: Washington reinstated its blockade on Iranian shipping and launched fresh strikes intended to weaken Tehran’s ability to target commercial vessels.

Between the lines

Kuwait’s role as a host to U.S. military forces, combined with the importance of its oil infrastructure, leaves it exposed to attacks linked to the confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The expansion of strikes to civilian facilities increases the risks to residents and critical infrastructure.

What to watch

Attention now turns to whether the attacks continue following the renewed U.S. blockade and whether Kuwait’s defenses can protect military, oil and civilian facilities from missiles and drones.

The post Iranian Strikes on Kuwait Are the Heaviest Since June Airport Attack appeared first on Ontime+.

The U.S. military launched a new round of strikes against dozens of Iranian military sites, with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) saying the operation targeted air defense systems, coastal radar installations, missile and drone sites, and fast attack boats in response to recent Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran, meanwhile, said the strikes had effectively ended diplomatic efforts.

Details

• The strikes: CENTCOM said U.S. fighter aircraft, naval assets, unmanned aircraft, and unmanned surface vessels struck dozens of targets to degrade Iran’s ability to conduct operations around the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran’s response: Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes, saying they had rendered recent diplomatic efforts meaningless, while state media acknowledged attacks in Khuzestan, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and Mahshahr.
• Military retaliation: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a new phase of military operations. Iranian media reported missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, although Washington has not independently confirmed all of those claims.
• Israel’s position: Israeli media quoted an Israeli official as saying Israel is monitoring the confrontation without taking a direct role for now, while noting that its position could change if Israel is attacked directly or if Washington requests its involvement.
• Shipping and markets: CENTCOM reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz is “a vital maritime corridor for global commerce” and pledged to protect freedom of navigation, as concerns mounted over global energy supplies and shipping.

Background

Roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making any disruption there an immediate concern for global energy markets and supply chains, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Between the lines

The latest operation suggests Washington has expanded its response beyond protecting commercial shipping to directly degrading Iran’s military capabilities linked to the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s declaration that diplomacy has effectively collapsed further narrows the prospects for near-term de-escalation.

What to watch

Attention will focus on Iran’s next military response, commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and any signs that diplomatic contacts could resume or that additional regional actors may become directly involved.

The post U.S. Expands Iran Strikes as Tehran Declares Diplomacy Over appeared first on Ontime+.

Qatar has announced the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the father emir, on July 12, without disclosing a cause. He was the central figure in the modern remaking of the state, overseeing the shift that turned Qatar from a modest Gulf player into a country with financial, political and media influence far beyond its size.

Sheikh Hamad took power in 1995 and ruled for 18 years before handing it to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a rare and orderly succession for the region. During that period, Qatar’s rise accelerated with the expansion of liquefied natural gas exports, generating immense revenues that were used to build national wealth, deepen international reach and widen the country’s tools of influence, from investment to media to diplomacy.

His legacy, however, was not only economic. Under his rule, Al Jazeera was launched, sovereign investment expanded, and Doha developed into a more outward-looking centre for global education, sport and regional diplomacy. At the same time, Qatar pursued a foreign policy that often unsettled its neighbours and laid the groundwork for disputes that extended into the reign of his successor.

Details

• Announcement: The Amiri Diwan said Sheikh Hamad died on July 12, without giving a cause of death.
• Rule: He took power in 1995 and remained in office for 18 years before transferring power to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
• Gas: During his reign, Qatar moved from shipping its first LNG cargo in 1996 to becoming the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.
• Economy: Qatar’s economy expanded more than 20-fold, reaching $199 billion in 2013, according to World Bank data cited in the report.
• Investment: He established the Qatar Investment Authority in 2005 to channel gas wealth into investments at home and abroad, with major bets on global companies and assets.
• Influence: Support for Al Jazeera, the hosting of U.S. universities and the successful bid for the 2022 World Cup all strengthened Qatar’s global profile.
• Foreign policy: His policies combined hosting the region’s largest U.S. air base with maintaining ties to Iran and backing movements that triggered disputes with several Arab states.

Between the lines

Sheikh Hamad’s death reopens the chapter that defined modern Qatar: a small state that built power through gas, then converted that surplus into instruments of influence. This is not only the passing of a former ruler. It marks the departure of the generation that shaped the Qatari model still visible in Doha’s politics and posture today.

What’s next

The next question is how Sheikh Hamad’s legacy will be framed within Qatar’s official narrative, and which parts of his record will be most strongly emphasised: the gas-driven wealth story, the construction of influence, or the complex regional balancing that continued to shape Qatari policy long after he left office.

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Iran tied the future of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to the continuation of its confrontation with the United States, while expanding attacks against what it said were U.S.-linked targets across the Gulf after American forces struck 140 military sites inside Iran, according to Yedioth Ahronoth and U.S. Central Command.

Details

• Tehran’s message: Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, described the Strait of Hormuz as “more important than dozens of nuclear bombs,” calling it one of Iran’s key deterrence assets.

• Hormuz stance: Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee, said Iran controls the strait “by force” and that it will remain closed until U.S. intervention in the region ends.

• U.S. strikes: U.S. Central Command said it struck 140 military targets, including missile launch sites, drone facilities, naval positions, weapons depots, and command-and-control infrastructure, saying the campaign aims to reduce Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping.

• Regional fallout: Qatar said the attacks on its territory violated international law and that it reserves the right to respond. Jordan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates also condemned the attacks. Qatar reported intercepting incoming missiles, while Oman said it rescued 23 crew members from an attacked cargo ship and continues searching for one missing sailor.

• Iranian casualty: Iranian state-linked agencies Mehr and Tasnim reported that a naval officer was killed in a U.S. strike on Jask Port. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also claimed it struck facilities hosting U.S. forces in Jordan, a claim that could not be independently verified.

Background

The Strait of Hormuz carries a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making any disruption to navigation there a direct threat to international energy markets. In recent days, freedom of navigation through the waterway has become the central flashpoint in the escalating U.S.-Iran confrontation.

What to watch

Attention will focus on any official announcement regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the scale of further military exchanges, Gulf states’ responses, and possible mediation efforts led by Oman or Qatar.

The post Iran Doubles Down on Hormuz, Expands Gulf Conflict appeared first on Ontime+.

The latest

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham died Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness, his office announced, as President Donald Trump mourned one of his closest political allies and said funeral arrangements would follow.

Details

• Office statement: Graham’s family thanked the public for its prayers and asked for privacy during an “incredibly difficult period.”

• Trump tribute: The president called Graham “one of the greatest people and senators” he had ever known.

• Final message: Trump said Graham was always working, described him as a true patriot and said he would be greatly missed.

Background

Graham represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 and became a prominent Republican voice on national security, defense and foreign policy.

What to watch

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced later, along with the formal process for filling South Carolina’s vacant Senate seat.

The post Lindsey Graham Dies at 71; Trump Mourns a “True American Patriot” appeared first on Ontime+.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard struck a commercial cargo ship with a missile as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official, before declaring the waterway closed until further notice. The IRGC said it fired a warning shot after the vessel refused to change course.

Details

• US account: A US official told Axios that an IRGC missile hit the vessel and caused damage.

• IRGC account: The Guard said it warned ships against using an unauthorized route and fired after one vessel ignored its instructions.

• Strait closure: The IRGC said no vessels would be allowed through until what it called US intervention in the area ends.

• Omani proposal: Oman proposed fully reopening both lanes, including unrestricted passage through the southern route in Omani waters, a diplomat said.

• Tehran’s response: Iran’s delegation did not approve the proposal in Muscat and referred it to Tehran for internal consultations.

Background

The incident came one day after the Trump administration demanded a public Iranian guarantee of safe passage and hours after talks involving Iran, Oman and Qatar.

What to watch

Attention now turns to the vessel and its crew, Washington’s response, and Tehran’s decision on the Omani proposal.

The post Iran Strikes Cargo Ship and Closes Strait of Hormuz appeared first on Ontime+.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei pledged to avenge the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring in a statement published by the semi-official Fars News Agency that revenge is “the demand of our nation and must be carried out.” The statement was issued just hours after President Donald Trump warned of a devastating military response if Iran attempted to assassinate him.

Details

• Khamenei’s pledge: Mojtaba Khamenei said revenge “does not depend on my presence or that of any other official,” promising it would happen “soon,” according to Fars.

• Trump’s warning: Trump reiterated that any Iranian attempt to assassinate him would trigger an unprecedented U.S. military response, repeating the warning in a Truth Social post.

• Assassination concerns: CNN reported that U.S. and Israeli officials have discussed threats voiced by Iranian hardliners, while U.S. intelligence officials say they have not identified any new, specific Iranian assassination plot targeting Trump.

• Continued absence: Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since assuming the role of Supreme Leader. Reports have circulated that he was injured during the war, but Iranian authorities have neither confirmed his condition nor released recent images of him.

• No negotiations: Fars quoted an informed source as denying reports that Iran had requested renewed negotiations with the United States, saying no such request had been made.

Background

The statement comes amid one of the most dangerous periods of tension between Iran, the United States, and Israel since the recent war. The exchange of threats coincides with continued disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and regional deterrence, while diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran remain stalled.

What to watch

Attention will focus on whether Mojtaba Khamenei makes his first public appearance, how Washington and Israel respond to his threats, and whether the escalating rhetoric affects regional security or prospects for renewed nuclear diplomacy.

The post Mojtaba Khamenei Vows Revenge, Escalates Standoff With Washington appeared first on Ontime+.

The route running close to Oman’s coast has become one of the most sensitive bets inside the Strait of Hormuz, as tankers shift toward it to avoid waters closer to Iran. But that option is no longer secure. Ships have come under attack, and traffic through one of the world’s most important energy corridors has become more unsettled.

The problem now is not a formal closure of the strait. It is that transit through it has become more costly, more complicated and less predictable. Shipowners and operators are weighing the risk of delay against the risk of being targeted, while Iran continues moving its own vessels through a slower and more disrupted channel.

That shift places Oman in the middle of a closely watched passage and makes any alternative route inside Hormuz less reassuring than before. The question is no longer simply whether the strait is open, but whether it remains navigable under tolerable commercial and security conditions.

Details

• Route: Some tankers have moved closer to Oman’s coastline in search of a safer passage through Hormuz.
• Threat: That route has not remained insulated, with ships facing attacks and rising concern over strikes inside the corridor itself.
• Traffic: Transit has not stopped بالكامل, but it has become slower and more difficult for commercial shipping.
• Trade-off: Shipping companies are now choosing between delay, higher costs and greater exposure during passage.
• Impact: Any further disruption on this line would quickly hit oil flows, insurance costs and transport pricing across the region.

Between the lines

The story is no longer about whether Hormuz is open or closed. It is about whether passage through it is still workable at anything close to normal cost and risk. That is a meaningful shift in how Gulf energy security should be read.

What to watch

Watch whether shipping companies keep using the route near Oman or move toward more cautious operating patterns as risks rise. The scale of any further attacks will also determine whether the disruption remains partial or turns into broader pressure on energy flows through Hormuz.

The post Oman Route Raises the Cost of Passage Through Hormuz appeared first on Ontime+.

Gulf producers are pushing more crude into the market and bringing idle capacity back online, a move that boosts supply and sets up a sharper fight over market share. But that shift does not automatically solve the fuel problem, because the bottleneck has moved to refining rather than production.

The pressure is now concentrated in gasoline and diesel after refineries in the Gulf and Russia were hit while global consumption remained elevated. That split between ample crude and tighter refined products means fuel prices could stay under pressure even if the crude market steadies.

For the region, the picture points to a clear mismatch: the Gulf can raise supply, but market stability also depends on refinery resilience and the efficiency of shipping and refining chains. Crude prices alone are no longer enough to read the market.

Details

• Supply: Higher Gulf crude output signals a push to restore idle capacity and defend market share.
• Bottleneck: The expected squeeze is in gasoline and diesel, not in crude availability itself.
• Refining: Refinery disruption and firm global demand are making refined-product markets more vulnerable to fresh shocks.
• Pricing: That divergence could widen the gap between crude-price moves and end-fuel prices.
• Impact: The story reaches beyond energy markets into transport, inflation and supply costs across the region and globally.

Between the lines

The problem at this stage is not a lack of oil in itself, but the market’s ability to turn that oil into available fuel at the required scale. That shifts the focus from production alone to refining and logistics.

What to watch

Watch whether Gulf supply increases accelerate further and whether damaged refineries return to normal operations quickly. Summer demand and shipping costs will also determine whether the gasoline and diesel squeeze stays temporary or turns into a longer strain on the market.

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