US launches new Iran strikes as UAE reports deadly tanker attack
Iranian media reported explosions at several sites, while the UAE said Iranian missiles hit two tankers and killed one crew member.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
The United States is carrying out additional attacks on Iran, Al Jazeera reported early Tuesday GMT, citing Iranian media accounts of explosions at several locations. The reports came as the United Arab Emirates said two of its national tankers had been hit by Iranian cruise missiles, killing one crew member and wounding several others.
Iranian media reported blasts on Kish Island, Jam Island, Qeshm Island, Bushehr and Bandar Abbas, according to Al Jazeera. The affected areas include islands and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that has become a central point in the confrontation.
Iran’s army said it had struck US military sites in Kuwait and what it called a “hostile vessel of the American enemy,” Al Jazeera reported. No further details on damage or casualties from those claimed attacks were included in the report.
Hormuz dispute intensifies
US President Donald Trump said Washington would reinstate a naval blockade on Iranian ports in the coming hours, according to Al Jazeera. Trump also said the United States would “become the guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz for a 20 percent fee.
Iran’s military warned that it would not allow the United States to interfere in management of the strait, Al Jazeera reported. The warning followed Trump’s comments on the blockade and US control over the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz sits off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates. An AFP image published by Al Jazeera showed ships sailing near the strait off Khor Fakkan on July 13, 2026.
Regional attacks widen
The UAE said two of its national tankers were targeted by Iranian cruise missiles, according to Al Jazeera. The UAE said one crew member was killed and several others were wounded.
Al Jazeera also reported that the Houthis in Yemen blamed Saudi Arabia for an attack on Sanaa airport. The Houthis responded by firing missiles at Saudi Arabia, according to the report.
Elsewhere in the region, Israeli forces continued attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported. The European Commission and several other countries launched an initiative to deliver $1bn in aid projects for Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
The latest developments were reported during live coverage of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran, along with Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. Al Jazeera said its previous updates from Monday, July 13, included reports of US bombing of Iranian cities and an intensifying standoff around Hormuz.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.