The U.S. military launched fresh air and naval strikes near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday evening, July 12, 2026 [4].
These operations signal a significant escalation in maritime tensions that threaten the global energy supply and the stability of shipping lanes between Iran and Kuwait. The move comes as the U.S. seeks to counter Iranian aggression toward commercial vessels in one of the world's most critical chokepoints.
U.S. Central Command said forces disabled a third vessel as part of the restored naval blockade [1]. This military action follows a series of clashes and previous strikes reported as early as Wednesday, July 10 [4]. The U.S. military said the blockade was reinstated in direct response to Iranian attacks on shipping within the strait [3].
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by warning of further retaliation and threatening to block Middle East energy exports [2]. Iranian officials said the country might withdraw from a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. as the crisis deepens [5].
The economic impact of the instability has already reached the global market. Brent crude prices reached $85 per barrel amid the volatility [1]. Additionally, the U.S. has imposed a 20% fee for shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz [1].
U.S. forces continue to maintain a presence in the region to enforce the blockade and protect commercial transit. The IRGC said it will respond to what it describes as foreign interference in its territorial waters [2].
“U.S. forces disabled a third vessel in the Hormuz blockade”
The restoration of a naval blockade and the imposition of a shipping fee indicate a shift from containment to active disruption by the U.S. military. By targeting vessels and increasing the cost of transit, the U.S. is leveraging economic and physical pressure to deter IRGC attacks. However, the threat of Iran withdrawing from a memorandum of understanding suggests a breakdown in diplomatic channels, which increases the risk of a wider conflict that could further spike global oil prices.
