Search & fact-check with cited sources for What triggered the US to launch fresh strikes on Iran days after President Trump declared the ceasefire "over," what targets were hit in the two-day campaign, how did Iran retaliate, and what was the impact on oil markets and the broader

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What triggered the strikes

On July 7, 2026, Iran attacked three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz . The U.S. Central Command characterized this as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement that had been in place since mid-April . In retaliation, the U.S. military launched a "series of powerful strikes" against Iranian targets that same day .

President Donald Trump then declared the interim ceasefire "over" during a NATO summit on July 8, calling negotiations with Iran "a waste of time" and referring to Iranian leaders as "sick people" . He warned that the U.S. was preparing for another night of strikes .

Targets hit in the two-day campaign

• First wave (July 7): U.S. Central Command said it struck over 80 targets, including air defense systems, missile sites, and military facilities inside Iran . The U.S. also reinstated oil sanctions on Iran that had been exempted under the ceasefire .
• Second wave (July 8–9): A second night of strikes was launched late Wednesday (July 8), described as "additional self-defense strikes" against "multiple" locations in Iran . Some reports described this as a two-day exchange where both sides struck more than 80 targets each .

How Iran retaliated

Early on July 8, Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain . Missile alert sirens sounded in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar early Thursday (July 9) warning of incoming Iranian attacks . Iran framed its retaliation as a direct response to the U.S. strikes .

A U.S. official confirmed attacks on U.S. facilities but reported no U.S. casualties .

Impact on oil markets

Oil prices surged sharply:

• Brent crude jumped 6.2% to $78.74/barrel as of July 8 .
• WTI and Brent both soared more than 5–6% after Trump declared the ceasefire "over" .
• U.S. stock futures slid, and markets were described as "jolted" by the sudden re-escalation, with fears of renewed disruption to Middle East oil supplies .

Broader US-Iran conflict timeline

Date	Event
Feb 28, 2026	U.S. and Israel launch coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting nuclear facilities .
Apr 8, 2026	A conditional 14-day ceasefire is reached; Strait of Hormuz reopens .
Jun 11, 2026	Trump cancels planned strikes, citing progress in talks .
Jun 15, 2026	U.S. and Iran agree on a timetable for a peace deal; Strait of Hormuz operations resume .
Jun 27, 2026	A tanker is struck in Hormuz; U.S. carries out fresh strikes; Iran retaliates against U.S. sites in Kuwait and Bahrain .
Jul 7, 2026	Iran hits three commercial vessels in Hormuz; U.S. strikes over 80 Iranian targets .
Jul 8, 2026	Trump declares ceasefire "over" at NATO summit; second night of U.S. strikes begins; Iran fires missiles at U.S. bases .

The core fragility throughout this period: each ceasefire or interim deal unraveled within weeks as commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz became both the trigger and the target for renewed hostilities.