Iran targets U.S. military bases in Gulf after American-Israeli strikes

[Flags of United States of America, Israel and Iran painted on the concrete wall with soldier shadow.]

Iran launched missile attacks on U.S. military bases across the Persian Gulf on Saturday, retaliating against American and Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear and government facilities, according to Iranian state media.

State-run Nour News, which is close to Iran’s security establishment, said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired heavy missiles at multiple targets simultaneously. The reported targets included Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

Bahrain said a service facility supporting the US Fifth Fleet was struck in a missile attack, while CNN reported that Qatar intercepted two missiles over its airspace.

The retaliation followed coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes across Iran earlier in the day. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to take control of their government after the military campaign concluded.

The attacks mark the first time Iran has targeted all major U.S. military sites in the region simultaneously. In previous flare-ups, Tehran had typically carried out what it described as “limited” retaliatory strikes. Last June, Iran targeted Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to earlier U.S. and Israeli operations.

Iran, a founding member of OPEC, is a key global oil producer and controls territory along the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. Crude Oil Futures (CL1:COM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CL1:COM]) were up +2.7% to $67.02/bbl at press time, while Brent Futures (CO1:COM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CO1:COM]) rose +2.8% to $72.87/bbl. U.S. natural gas futures (NG1:COM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NG1:COM]) +1.1% $2.86/MMBtu.

Gold Spot Price (XAUUSD:CUR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XAUUSD:CUR]) also jumped +1.8% to $5,278/oz, Silver Spot Price (XAGUSD:CUR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XAGUSD:CUR]) +6.3% to $93.8/oz.

CRUDE OIL ETFS: (USO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/USO]), (BNO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BNO]), (UCO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/UCO]), (SCO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SCO]), (USL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/USL]), (DBO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DBO]), (DRIP [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DRIP]), (GUSH [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GUSH]), (USOI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/USOI]), (UNG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/UNG]), (BOIL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BOIL]), (KOLD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/KOLD]), (UNL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/UNL]), (FCG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FCG]), (XLE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XLE])

GOLD ETFS: (GLD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GLD]), (IAU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IAU]), (SGOL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SGOL]), (OUNZ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/OUNZ]), (BAR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BAR]), (GDX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GDX]), (GDXJ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GDXJ]), (NUGT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NUGT]), (RING [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RING]), and (DUST [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DUST]).

SILVER ETFS: (SLV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SLV]), (SIVR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SIVR]), (AGQ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AGQ]), (ZSL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZSL]), (PSLV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PSLV]), (SIL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SIL]), (SILJ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SILJ]), and (SLVP [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SLVP]).

AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE ETFS: iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (BATS:ITA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ITA#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]), Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PPA#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]), and the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:XAR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XAR#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]).

Here are some Israel-focused exchange-traded funds of interest: (BATS:IZRL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IZRL#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]), (NYSEARCA:ISRA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ISRA#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]), and (NYSEARCA:ITEQ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ITEQ#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]).

MORE ON COMMODITIES

* Silver And Gold: Short Squeeze Potential Is Still Considerable [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4876690-silver-gold-short-squeeze-potential-still-considerable]
* WTI Oil Plays Tricks Ahead Of Weekend Risk (Technical Analysis) [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4876450-wti-oil-plays-tricks-ahead-weekend-risk-technical-analysis]
* Lingering Geopolitical Uncertainty Requires A Crude Rethink [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4876225-lingering-geopolitical-uncertainty-requires-crude-rethink]
* Trump confirms U.S. began major combat operation against Iran [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4558949-trump-confirms-us-began-major-combat-operation-against-iran]
* Oil jumps as market sees rising risk of U.S.-Iran conflict [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4558942-oil-jumps-as-market-sees-rising-risk-of-us-iran-conflict]