Gulf stock markets were mixed at the start of Thursday's trading, as investors assessed escalating military tensions between the US and Iran, while also monitoring second-quarter corporate results, amid growing concerns over navigational security in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.

US forces said they carried out a new round of strikes on Iran on Wednesday, continuing their military operations for the twelfth consecutive night, while Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a fire on an oil tanker following an explosion while it was crossing a route it said was mined in the southern Strait of Hormuz near Omani coasts, while two other tankers turned back.

In Saudi Arabia, the main index TASI fell 0.1 percent, affected by a 0.9 percent decline in Saudi National Bank stock, while losses were limited by a 0.5 percent rise in Saudi Aramco stock.

In the UAE, the Dubai Financial Market index rose 0.6 percent, supported by a 2.9 percent rise in Emirates NBD stock, after the bank announced its second-quarter profit was stable compared to the previous quarter.

The Abu Dhabi index also rose 0.7 percent, supported by a 4.1 percent rise in First Abu Dhabi Bank stock after it announced growth in its quarterly profit.

In Qatar, the main index fell 0.3 percent, pressured by a 1.2 percent decline in Qatar Industries stock.

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