US conducts third night of airstrikes on Iran

The United States launched a third consecutive night of air strikes against Iran on July 13, ordered by President Donald Trump. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the five‑hour operation targeted military sites in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas, using precision munitions to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump warned that the United States would “hit Iran hard” and later said a diplomatic deal remained possible despite the renewed fighting. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out retaliatory drone and missile attacks on U.S. facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, and launched cruise‑missile strikes on two UAE‑flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and wounding several others.

The United States also announced a blockade of Iran’s entire coastline, affecting all ports and maritime traffic. Both sides cited violations of a provisional cease‑fire agreement reached in June, raising concerns about the security of a key global oil transit route.