US Launches Fourth Wave of Strikes on Iran as Hormuz Attacks Escalate

The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified overnight from July 12 into July 13, 2026, as U.S. Central Command launched a fourth wave of strikes and Iran retaliated against American military bases in the Gulf region.

Fourth Wave of U.S. Strikes

CENTCOM said its latest wave targeted a wider set of sites across southern and western Iran, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Jask, Sirik, Bushehr, Dezful, Ahvaz, Abadan and Khorramshahr. The stated aim was to degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.

In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck two U.S. bases with ballistic missiles: Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Shipping Under Threat

Iran had earlier attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel suffered engine-room damage and a fire. One Indian crew member remained missing and 10 others were rescued.

Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to shipping traffic, while Washington insisted the waterway remained open. The competing claims added to uncertainty across the region.

Regional Spillover Concerns

The escalation follows a third U.S. strike wave on July 12 and Iranian missile and drone attacks on five Gulf states the same day. Azerbaijan, which borders Iran, is watching closely for any spillover into the South Caucasus.

Coverage of the crisis has been reported by outlets including Times of Israel, CNN, Jerusalem Post, PressTV and Euronews, as well as summaries compiled on Wikipedia regarding the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis.