U.S. missiles struck a Revolutionary Guards Navy headquarters in the Ziba Kenar area of Gilan province on Iran’s Caspian coast and the port city of Bandar Anzali, while an attack on Ahvaz killed four and wounded five. Iranian forces responded by hitting U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Iraq, damaging a Fifth Fleet surveillance tower; Jordan’s army said it downed seven missiles and six drones with no casualties. The Houthis struck two Saudi tankers in Bab el-Mandeb on Thursday, sending Brent crude above $100/bbl for the first time since May and doubling southern Red Sea shipping insurance costs, as Hormuz tanker crossings fell to one – the lowest since May 7.
Context
It is the third wave of U.S. strikes on Iran in July, following the initial operation on July 9 and a second wave on July 19 after two American service members were killed.