Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:54am on 13 Jul 2026,Monday International
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has come to a halt after fresh overnight strikes between the United States and Iran sharply escalated tensions in the Gulf. The US said it targeted dozens of Iranian military sites, including air defence systems, radar installations, missile and drone capabilities, in response to attacks on commercial vessels. Iran said it struck US bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, along with radar systems in Oman. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged maximum restraint, warning that renewed full-scale conflict would have "catastrophic consequences" and calling for freedom of navigation through the vital shipping route. (PC: X)