# [FLASH] Reports: Expanded U.S. Strike Wave Hammers Iran’s Khuzestan, Iran Launches Missiles *Monday, July 13, 2026 at 1:15 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk* **Detected**: 2026-07-13T01:15:33.926Z (3h ago) **Tags**: US, Iran, MiddleEast, Airstrikes, Missiles, Energy, Oil, Khuzestan **Sources**: OSINT **Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/alerts/14206.md **Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries --- **Summary**: Open-source reports from 00:17–01:03 UTC point to sustained U.S. airstrikes across Iran — with Khuzestan’s energy and military infrastructure hit, multiple cities from Bandar Abbas to Ahvaz targeted, and at least one civilian killed at an agricultural water facility. Iranian outlets now report that Tehran has begun launching missiles, signaling the confrontation is moving into a reciprocal strike phase with direct risk to Gulf energy flows and regional capitals. ## Detail U.S. forces appear to be executing a broad, continuing air offensive against Iran, with strikes reported from 00:17 to at least 01:03 UTC across key military and infrastructure targets, particularly in the oil-rich Khuzestan province. In parallel, an OSINT channel citing local sources now reports that Iran has started launching missiles, opening a new phase of direct, two-way engagement between Washington and Tehran. According to multiple Kurdish-front monitoring accounts and other open sources, U.S. strikes have hit Omidiyeh airbase and Aghajari Airport in Omidiyeh, the Bakeri/Bakri Garrison in Dezful (reported on fire), infrastructure along the Ahvaz–Haftkel highway, and urban areas including Abadan and Shadegan counties. A separate report notes a total blackout across Khuzestan around 00:17 UTC, suggesting substantial damage to power or grid nodes. The geographic footprint has widened beyond earlier raids. One situational report at 00:38 UTC lists strikes tonight on Qeshm, Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Jask, Bushehr, Khandab, Bandar Mahshahr, Behbahan, Andimeshk, Dezful, Ahvaz, Abadan, and Khorramshahr. Another at 01:03 UTC adds Arak, Shush, and Hoveyzeh to the target set. CNN, citing a U.S. official at 01:00 UTC, reports that U.S. attacks had not yet ended more than three hours after they began, indicating a sustained campaign rather than a single wave. Human impact is no longer confined to military installations. Iranian authorities quoted by @wfwitness at 00:56 UTC state that a U.S. strike on an agricultural water pumping station in Mahshahr, Khuzestan, killed one person and injured four. A related report identifies that target as part of agricultural water infrastructure in Mahshahr, highlighting growing risks to civilian and economic facilities. For people in southern Iran — particularly Khuzestan’s densely populated, economically vital corridor — these strikes mean power outages, damage to transport arteries, potential industrial accidents at refineries or depots, and rising fear of further attacks. Port workers, refinery crews, and families near bases in Abadan, Bandar Mahshahr, Ahvaz, and Bandar Abbas are on the front line of any mis-hit or secondary explosion. If Iranian missile launches target U.S. bases in the Gulf, Israel, or shipping lanes, military personnel and commercial ship crews from multiple nations become immediate stakeholders. Militarily, the reported target set suggests the U.S. is degrading Iran’s air operations, logistics hubs, and possibly elements of its air defense and command network in the southwest and along the Gulf coast, while also striking facilities near key ports. The reported Iranian missile response marks a transition from one-sided punitive strikes to a reciprocal exchange that could include attacks on U.S. forces, Gulf states, or maritime traffic. A total blackout in Khuzestan, if confirmed, would constrain Iran’s local command-and-control and complicate its ability to mobilize forces there. Economically and for markets, this escalation hits one of the world’s most sensitive energy regions. Khuzestan is a core onshore oil-producing region, and Bandar Abbas, Jask, Abadan, and Bandar Mahshahr sit near key export and refining infrastructure and sea lanes feeding the Strait of Hormuz — already reported closed earlier by Iranian action. Even without confirmed damage to major oil export terminals in this latest wave, risk premiums will climb: Brent and WTI are likely to spike further, Gulf shipping insurance costs will rise, and tanker routing decisions could shift away from the narrowest parts of the Gulf. Gold and U.S. Treasuries should see safe-haven demand; cyclical equities and EM credit with Gulf and Iran exposure may come under pressure. In the next 24–48 hours, key inflection points to watch are: (1) where Iran’s reported missiles land — U.S. bases, Israel, Gulf states, or shipping — and whether any cause mass casualties; (2) evidence of direct damage to major oil fields, refineries, export terminals, or power grids beyond Khuzestan’s blackout; (3) responses by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar regarding base access, oil output, and shipping advisories; (4) any moves by the U.S. Fifth Fleet to expand escorts or impose de facto control over Gulf lanes; and (5) emergency OPEC+ or IEA consultations that would signal expectations of a prolonged supply disruption. A transition from controlled strikes to a broader regional missile exchange would rapidly move this from a severe energy risk event to a systemic security shock. **MARKET IMPACT ASSESSMENT:** High immediate upside pressure on crude benchmarks (Brent/WTI), flight-to-safety flows into gold and U.S. Treasuries, pressure on risk assets and EM FX, and potential widening of Gulf shipping and insurance risk premia given proximity to key export terminals and prior Hormuz closure reports.