Strait of Hormuz Crisis Day 97 — Iran Fires Missiles as Oil Shipping Collapses

The world's most critical oil chokepoint remains in crisis. On Day 97 of the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, Iran launched ballistic missiles at US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain — warning that any further American aggression would trigger the full closure of the strait to all oil and gas exports. The US military shot down 4 Iranian drones on June 5 and struck Iranian radar installations in the region.

The crisis — which began on February 28, 2026 following US and Israeli military operations against Iran — has caused one of the most significant disruptions to global energy supply in modern history. This critical story sits squarely in our Politics & World News coverage.

What's Happening Right Now

The latest escalation on June 5-6 saw US forces intercept Iranian drone attacks near the strait before conducting retaliatory strikes on Iranian radar facilities. Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain — a significant escalation that marks one of the most direct Iranian attacks on American installations since the conflict began.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has maintained its position that any vessel belonging to the United States, Israel, or allied nations transiting the Strait is a "legitimate target." It has backed that threat with action — boarding and attacking merchant ships, laying sea mines, and launching sustained drone campaigns against commercial shipping.

Since March 4, Iran has formally declared the Strait "closed" — a declaration that has dramatically reshaped global energy markets and pushed shipping companies worldwide to suspend or reroute operations.

The Shipping Collapse — By the Numbers

The economic impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis is staggering:

• Pre-crisis baseline: 95 vessel transits per day through the strait
• Current daily transits: Just 10 vessels — an 89% collapse in traffic
• Vessels stranded: Over 405 ships anchored or stopped in the region
• Tanker traffic drop: Initially fell by 70% at the onset of the crisis
• Ships damaged: At least 17 merchant vessels damaged, 7 abandoned
• Ships captured: 2 merchant ships seized by IRGC
• Deaths: 12 seafarers killed or missing, 1 port worker killed in Bahrain
• Insurance premiums: Now 4-5 times pre-crisis levels

The numbers tell a brutal story. The Strait of Hormuz is not just a shipping lane — it is the jugular vein of the global energy system. Before the crisis, approximately 25% of the world's seaborne oil trade and 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through this narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.

With that flow reduced by nearly 90%, energy markets have been severely disrupted. The US has been leading a naval escort operation for allied shipping while simultaneously enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports — a US naval blockade that ran from April 13 to May 29, 2026.

The Broader War: Operation Epic Fury

The Hormuz crisis is part of a larger conflict that began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated military operations against Iranian targets. The operation — called Operation Epic Fury — targeted Iranian ballistic missile infrastructure, drone production facilities, and nuclear-related sites.

President Trump has stated the US is "on track to complete all of America's military objectives very shortly" — but the conflict has dragged into its fourth month with no clear end in sight. Trump told allies to "go to the strait and just take it" — urging countries affected by the shipping disruption to take independent action to keep the waterway open.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Normandy this weekend for D-Day commemorations — but the Strait of Hormuz crisis dominated his conversations with European counterparts, all of whom are deeply affected by the energy disruption.

In a notable development, Pope Leo XIV — currently on a six-day visit to Spain — said the war in Iran does not qualify as a "just war" under Catholic teaching, adding an unusual moral dimension to the geopolitical debate.

Why This Matters for You

Even if you are thousands of miles from the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz crisis is affecting your daily life:

• Fuel prices have risen sharply across the US, Europe, and Asia as reduced oil supply tightens global markets
• Shipping costs for nearly all consumer goods have risen as companies reroute cargo around Africa rather than through the Gulf
• Inflation — already elevated — is being pushed higher by energy price increases
• Airlines are facing rising jet fuel costs — with American Airlines already announcing it is cutting six routes due to fuel cost pressures

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis is in its Day 97 with no resolution in sight.
• Iran launched ballistic missiles at US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain this week.
• The US shot down 4 Iranian drones on June 5 and struck Iranian radar installations.
• Vessel transits through the Strait have collapsed from 95 per day to just 10 — an 89% drop.
• Over 405 ships are anchored or stranded in the region; 17 merchant vessels have been damaged.
• 25% of global oil and 20% of LNG normally flows through the Strait — now severely disrupted.
• Pope Leo XIV said the Iran war does not qualify as a "just war" under Catholic teaching.
• The crisis is driving up fuel prices, shipping costs, and inflation worldwide.