The United States struck Iranian targets in the strait of Hormuz on Monday, hitting launchers on Iran’s Larak Island in what the Guardian described as the first exchange of fire in more than a month. The strikes sparked Iranian reprisals against US forces in the region, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities six months into the war.

Iran responded to the assault on Larak Island by targeting US bases in Jordan, according to the Guardian. Separately, the United Arab Emirates said its air defences intercepted an Iranian drone over its territorial waters. In a statement on X, the UAE’s foreign ministry “strongly condemned the hostile Iranian attack” and said it reserved the “full and legitimate right to respond,” calling the incident a “dangerous escalation.”

Hours after the attacks, President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post — featuring an AI video showing oil infrastructure exploding — that Iran’s energy hub of Kharg island was being “blown to smithereens,” the Guardian reported, without any supporting evidence. Hamid Bovard, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company, mocked the post and said oil operations there were continuing.

In a written message marking six months since the start of the war, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei called the US and Israel enemies of all Islamic nations and urged rulers of Muslim nations to “know your real enemy, understand its plans and confront it,” the official Irna news agency reported, according to the Guardian.

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said it had urgently evacuated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s oldest son, Yair, from the United States due to a threat against him. In a brief statement obtained by the Associated Press, the Shin Bet confirmed there had been a “significant threat” without elaborating.

The escalation rippled through markets. Brent crude jumped about 3% to above $90 on Monday after the US struck Iranian targets for the first time in weeks, according to CNBC. The flare-up coincided with this week’s G20 meeting, where US treasury secretary Scott Bessent is expected to step up efforts to isolate Iran economically.

The European Union said it would work with the US and allied countries to maintain economic pressure on Iran, welcoming efforts to ensure Iran “ceases its destabilising activities and engages in peace negotiations,” including through the US-led “Operation Economic Outcast.” Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian was due to take part in a Shanghai Cooperation summit beginning Monday.