Summary：**US Bombs Iranian Ports, Tehran Strikes Back at US Gulf Bases** *US and Iranian forces exchanged s

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**US Bombs Iranian Ports, Tehran Strikes Back at US Gulf Bases**
*US and Iranian forces exchanged strikes for the tenth consecutive night. Iran‑aligned Houthis threatened a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, impacting global energy supplies. Iran targeted US sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, while a tanker was struck.*

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### Introduction
Escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran entered a new phase on the night of [date], as American warplanes struck key Iranian port facilities along the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Iranian forces launched missile attacks on US‑aligned installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, and claimed responsibility for hitting a commercial tanker transiting the Gulf. The exchange marks the tenth straight night of reciprocal fire, raising alarms about the stability of one of the world’s most vital energy corridors.

### Key Developments
- **US strikes:** Pentagon officials confirmed that F‑35 squadrons targeted the Bandar Abbas and Bushehr ports, aiming to degrade Iran’s ability to load and export crude oil and to disrupt naval logistics.
- **Iranian response:** Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced salvoes of short‑range ballistic missiles hitting the US‑operated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar (via forward operating locations in Bahrain and Kuwait) and a logistics hub near Al‑Azraq in Jordan.
- **Houthi threat:** Yemen’s Houthi movement, backed by Tehran, warned of a imminent naval blockade targeting Saudi oil terminals in the Red Sea, a move that could further constrict global crude flows.
- **Tanker incident:** A Liberian‑flagged crude carrier reported damage after an explosion near the UAE’s Fujairah anchorage; investigators are assessing whether the blast resulted from a mine or missile fragment.
- **Diplomatic backdrop:** The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session, but veto powers blocked any binding resolution, leaving the conflict to play out on the battlefield.

### Industry Analysis
Energy analysts warn that sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20 % of global oil supplies pass—could push Brent crude above $95 per barrel within weeks. Insurance premiums for vessels transiting the Gulf have already risen 15 %, and shipping reroutes around the Cape of Good Hope are being evaluated by major tanker operators. The Houthis’