Two commercial cargo ships were struck by missiles near the Strait of Hormuz on the twelfth day of the conflict, with one vessel catching fire and requiring a full crew evacuation. The attacks on merchant shipping represent a continued threat to one of the world's most strategically critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas transits each day.

Iran also issued a public statement identifying American technology company facilities operating across the Middle East as potential future targets, naming offices belonging to Google and Amazon among those under consideration. The declaration marked a significant escalation in Iran's stated targeting framework, extending beyond military and energy infrastructure to encompass US corporate interests in the Gulf region. Australia responded by closing its embassies in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Tel Aviv.

Dubai's international airport was attacked for the second time in five days, with two Iranian drones intercepted in the vicinity and four people sustaining injuries. US forces destroyed 16 Iranian minesweepers operating in Gulf waters. The geographic scope of the conflict continued to expand on day twelve, with attacks now recorded across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel, drawing more countries into what began as a bilateral confrontation.