Escalation: Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed

On July 13, U.S. military officials detailed a third consecutive night of strikes in Iran, part of a campaign to halt the country’s ability to target ships near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Pentagon.

On July 13, Iran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, but U.S. officials rejected the claim and said the vital waterway remains open.

The U.S. said it struck Iranian military sites over the weekend, and on Monday Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it had targeted a U.S. base in response.

The Washington Post reported on July 13 that Iran launched attacks on Gulf states and described the American operations as the heaviest U.S. strikes in months.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources