Expansion of U.S. strikes on Iran leads to more retaliation across the Gulf

By — Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/expansion-of-u-s-strikes-on-iran-leads-to-more-retaliation-across-the-gulf Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Expansion of U.S. strikes on Iran leads to more retaliation across the Gulf World Jul 20, 2026 11:13 AM EDT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes against Iran on Monday after announcing the death of another American service member. Iran responded by launching attacks on American allies Kuwait and Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Even as the U.S. and Iran inch closer to all-out war, glimmers of hope appeared on the diplomatic front, as two regional officials said Iran's interior minister was expected to arrive late Monday for a two-day visit in Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. READ MORE: U.S. military identifies 2 soldiers killed in Iranian attack on Jordan The interim deal signed last month that was meant to end the fighting has crumbled and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital supply route for world energy supplies — has largely stalled. As fighting intensifies, both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks. Benchmark Brent crude traded Monday above $86 a barrel and regular gasoline in the U.S. climbed to an average of $4 a gallon, keeping pressure on Americans' wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall. The U.S. military said its service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. President Donald Trump said the latest wave of attacks on Iran were done "in honor of" U.S. soldiers recently killed. U.S. launches ninth night of Iran strikes The U.S. military's Central Command said its ninth straight night of airstrikes targeted "Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and communications networks." Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that the American strikes killed at least one person around Tabriz, a northwestern city about 520 kilometers (325 miles) from the capital, Tehran. Tabriz is believed to host underground missile bases run by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. U.S. strikes likely also hit Bandar Imam Khomeini in Khuzestan province, Sirik and Jask in Hormozgan province and Konarak and Chahbahar in Sistan and Baluchistan province, IRNA reported. As the strikes began, a vessel caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile near the coastline of Oman, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The crew abandoned the vessel, which was adrift and still ablaze hours