Iran expanded its retaliatory strikes into neutral Oman and the United Arab Emirates for the first time since May on Sunday after declaring the Strait of Hormuz was closed once again.
Iran unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones across the Gulf, targeting the largest swathes of nations since May. Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, the U.A.E., and Jordan were all targeted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in response to a large wave of U.S. airstrikes against 140 targets on Saturday, which was in turn in response to an attack on a Cyprus-flagged merchant vessel transiting the Strait or Hormuz.
While the U.A.E. has been targeted more than any other country in the war, attacks abruptly ceased in May, reportedly due to a secret deal being struck between the two. The attacks against Oman were even more surprising, as the country has been the most friendly towards Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even visited Oman the day before the strike to discuss plans to manage the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar was one of the hardest-hit countries, being targeted in two waves over two hours on Sunday morning, Euronews reporters observed. They reported that the scale of missile and drone attacks was at the same scale as the opening days of the war. The Qatari Foreign Ministry denounced Iran over the attack, saying it held the government of Iran “fully legally responsible for these aggressions and all their repercussions and consequences,” apparently preempting attempts by Tehran to offset blame to rogue Guards units.
“The necessity of an immediate and complete cessation of all military actions and aggressions that threaten the security and stability of the region, refraining from anything that could expand the scope of escalation, and a serious return to the path of dialogue and negotiations, and adherence to the understandings achieved through diplomatic efforts,” the statement said.
Qatar has been struck multiple times in the past week, casting doubt on its role as a negotiator.
Kuwait was hit once again. Three of its border centers and an offshore drilling platform were targeted and sustained “material damage,” along with the wounding of one worker. Iran’s Fars News Agency claimed the Guards targeted a U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Bahrain was also targeted again, with the two countries becoming Iran’s central targets in recent weeks.
The U.A.E. defense ministry said it intercepted munitions while they were still outside the nation’s borders.
The attacks brought condemnation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, an entity consisting of 57 countries with significant Muslim populations around the world. It derided the attacks from Iran as a “flagrant and ongoing violation of the sovereignty of these states.”
“The ongoing attacks and assaults on ships and obstruction of international trade are a clear breach of international law and the United Nations Charter and the Organization’s Charter,” it added.
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Soon after the strikes, Iranian media began reporting U.S. strikes along Iran’s coast along the Strait of Hormuz, including Qeshm Island.
U.S. Central Command denied Iranian reports that three U.S. service members had been killed in its retaliatory strikes.