US Completes Wave of Strikes on Iran as Tehran Fires at Gulf States and Jordan

The escalation between the United States and Iran continued overnight on Monday with extensive US military strikes across Iran. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the completion of another wave of attacks targeting missile and drone sites, coastal radar installations, and small boats. A US official told The New York Times that dozens of strikes were carried out, fewer than the 140 strikes conducted on Saturday. The official also stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to maritime traffic.

Yesterday's US strikes marked the largest campaign against Iran since the ceasefire, while Iran expanded its retaliatory fire to include Qatar and Oman for the first time. However, Iran has not yet fired on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or Israel. Israeli defense forces are closely monitoring the situation, with the air force on alert but not raising its readiness level.

Following the nighttime exchanges between Iran and the US and the Revolutionary Guards' condemnation of US attempts to open an illegal shipping route south of the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO) reported that despite the escalation, the shipping lane remains open but with a very high risk level. In response to Iranian military attacks in the Gulf, Qatar advised all maritime and fishing vessels to temporarily suspend voyages until further notice. Qatar strongly condemned the Iranian strikes on its territory, calling them a "dangerous escalation" that undermines diplomatic efforts for regional security and stability. Qatar's Foreign Ministry stated that it reserves the full right to respond to aggression under international law.