The United States launched a fresh series of strikes against multiple locations in Iran early Monday, July 13th, 2026, targeting military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats. The operation, conducted by US Central Command (CENTCOM), employed fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and for the first time, one-way attack sea drones. The US said the strikes aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to attack international shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint responsible for about 20 percent of global energy exports before the conflict.

Iranian officials reported that the US strikes hit eight cities in Khuzestan province, resulting in the death of one security guard and injuries to four people at a water station in Mahshahr. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have attacked sites linked to the US military in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Additionally, Iran reported that nearly a dozen enemy projectiles targeted Qeshm Island.

Monday’s attacks followed a separate wave of US strikes on Saturday, July 11th, when the US said it hit approximately 140 targets across Iran. These earlier strikes were in retaliation for IRGC attacks on commercial shipping and Tehran’s announcement that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz.

The control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention in the ongoing conflict, with both sides continuing to assert their influence over this vital waterway. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue, with the Iraqi Prime Minister scheduled to meet US President Trump in Washington to discuss deepening strategic ties.

Sources: Al Jazeera

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