Who launched the latest airstrikes against Iran? Right now it's a mystery

By — Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/who-launched-the-latest-airstrikes-against-iran-right-now-its-a-mystery Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Who launched the latest airstrikes against Iran? Right now it's a mystery World Jul 10, 2026 12:45 PM EDT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — No one claimed responsibility Friday for airstrikes that hit Iran after the U.S. said it finished its attacks, leaving questions about who else may be targeting the Islamic Republic. The strikes Thursday, just as Iran prepared to bury the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hit areas across southern Iran. The country's theocracy hasn't directly blamed anyone, though one lawmaker warned the United Arab Emirates about allegedly providing support to the U.S. campaign against Iran. WATCH: Renewed U.S.-Iran fighting threatens shipping and hopes of ending war Gulf Arab states, which Iran has targeted repeatedly since the war began Feb. 28, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday about the strikes. The attacks come as those Gulf nations and the U.S. insist that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for world energy markets, must be open and free to ships to transit. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Iran says the strait must now be under its sole control and that vessels should begin to pay fees to Tehran — even though the world for decades has considered it an international waterway. About a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait before the war began. WATCH: As diplomacy stalls, families worry Americans imprisoned by Iran are forgotten Iran's grip on the strait during the conflict led to an global energy crisis, though oil prices have sharply dropped since wartime highs of $120 a barrel. Israel, which took part in the Iran war, also has not claimed any recent attacks on Iran. Unclaimed strikes came after U.S. ended its attacks The U.S. military's Central Command said Thursday around 6:30 a.m. local Iran time that it had concluded a round of strikes that hit 90 targets. Shortly after that, Iranian news outlets and state media reported a series of airstrikes and explosions targeting the country's Bushehr and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces, the cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar and other areas. Central Command did not respond to a request for comment about the additional strikes. Iran responded to the strikes Thursday by launching a wider volley of attacks across the Mideast, targeting Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar. Missile alert sirens sounded in the four countries, sending people to seek shelter. One person was reportedly hurt in Kuwait as air defense systems targeted the incoming fire across the region. READ MORE: New attacks raise questions about what comes next in the Iran war The exchange