U.S. Launches Fourth Wave of Strikes Against Iran as Hormuz Shipping Crisis Deepens

The United States carried out a fourth wave of military strikes against Iran on Sunday, expanding its campaign to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities after a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest operation struck dozens of targets across multiple locations, including Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats.

For the first time in the campaign, U.S. forces also employed one-way attack sea drones alongside fighter aircraft, naval vessels and one-way attack aerial drones.

“Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations. Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping,” CENTCOM said in a statement alongside video of the attack.

Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea… pic.twitter.com/bOM2kmgRxz

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026

“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it,” CENTCOM said. “U.S. forces are postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations.”

The latest strikes come less than 24 hours after U.S. forces launched a third round of attacks following an Iranian strike on the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel suffered a fire and significant engine room damage after being struck by a projectile about 9 nautical miles east of Oman.

The crew abandoned ship and was rescued by local authorities, although one crewmember remains missing. The incident was confirmed by both UKMTO and the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC). 

CENTCOM said Saturday’s operation targeted approximately 140 Iranian military sites, bringing the total number of targets struck during the first three nights of operations to more than 300. Sunday’s follow-on strikes further expanded the campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting one of the world’s busiest energy chokepoints.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) announced Monday on social media that, “due to recent hostile actions by the U.S. forces,” passage through the Strait of Hormuz is “currently unfeasible” and that transit permit applications would not be processed until stability returns. The statement marks another attempt by Tehran to assert administrative control over commercial traffic through the international waterway, a position rejected by the United States.

Speaking to Fox News on Monday, President Donald Trump said Iran had broken the June memorandum of understanding and vowed a sustained military response. “We’re going to guard it, and we’re going to get paid for guarding it,” Trump said, adding that the United States would likely “run the Strait” as its “guardian angel” and should be reimbursed for protecting commercial shipping.

The latest escalation follows a week of mounting attacks on commercial shipping. Earlier last week, U.S. forces launched strikes against more than 80 Iranian military targets after attacks on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged tanker Wedyan, and the Liberia-flagged Cyprus Prosperity. Washington has since revoked the temporary sanctions relief granted under the June memorandum of understanding, while President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire agreement effectively over.

Despite the military escalation, the U.S. military maintains that commercial traffic continues to move through the strait. Since early May, CENTCOM says U.S. forces have helped facilitate the transit of more than 800 commercial vessels carrying approximately 400 million barrels of crude oil.

The security environment, however, remains highly volatile. In its latest advisory, JMIC maintained a SEVERE threat level for the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Iranian attacks, navigation interference, mine hazards and persistent IRGC harassment of merchant vessels. Commercial traffic remains well below normal levels as shipowners continue to exercise caution. 

The latest exchange further distances Washington and Tehran from the memorandum of understanding signed in June that briefly halted hostilities, reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, and provided limited sanctions relief for Iranian oil exports before the agreement unraveled following renewed attacks on merchant shipping.

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