9th July 2026
The US military says it carried out strikes against more than 80 targets initially, followed by another wave reportedly involving around 90 targets. The stated aim was to reduce Iran’s ability to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Reported targets included:
Iranian missile facilities
Missile storage areas
Missile launch capability
Related infrastructure
Drone facilities
Drone storage sites
Drone-related military infrastructure
Naval assets
Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval equipment
Small fast attack boats used around the Gulf
Air defence systems
Radar and coastal surveillance systems
Other defensive military installations
Logistics infrastructure
Facilities supporting military operations along Iran's coast
A key focus appears to be Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, rather than attacks on Iran's oil production facilities themselves.
Iranian retaliation
Iran has said it launched missile and drone attacks against US-linked facilities in the Gulf.
Reported targets include:
US military facilities in Bahrain
Including areas linked to the US naval presence.
US facilities in Kuwait
Including the Ali Al Salem Air Base area, according to Iranian statements.
Iran has also claimed to have struck a US drone, although details remain disputed.
What has not happened so far
The latest reports do not indicate:
a confirmed US strike destroying Iran's main oil export terminals
a confirmed closure of the Strait of Hormuz
a direct attack on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure
a full-scale ground invasion of Iran
However, the risk remains that Iran could respond by targeting shipping, mines, missiles, or energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
Why this matters for oil prices (especially heating oil in Scotland)
Given our earlier discussions about Caithness heating oil and fuel costs, the important point is this:
The strikes appear designed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, not close it.
But markets price in the risk of disruption.
Even a few attacks on tankers can push crude prices higher quickly because around a fifth of global oil supplies normally pass through that waterway.
So the next major market trigger will probably be:
Does Iran hit more tankers?
Does Iran attempt to restrict Hormuz traffic?
Do the US or allies strike Iranian energy infrastructure?
At the moment, the conflict has hit military capability rather than oil fields, but the danger for consumers is that the next stage could move from a military confrontation into an energy crisis.