The United States carried out its third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran on July 13, targeting coastal surveillance systems, drones, and missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, after President Donald Trump vowed to strike Iran hard both that evening and the next day. Iranian sources reported four explosions heard near the strait, while Iranian state media claimed the military struck a hostile U.S. vessel with cruise missiles.
United States Central Command stated the operations aim to degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian and commercial shipping, imposing heavy costs on Iranian forces. Trump threatened to destroy the suspected underground nuclear complex at Mount Kolang Gaz La near Natanz, saying he would "level" it, and announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz with a 20 percent fee on transiting vessels. He also said he knows the location of remaining Iranian military leadership and intends to target them.
Satellite imagery from private firms indicates Iran has been rebuilding suspected nuclear facilities at both Pickaxe Mountain and Parchin, what Trump called a violation of last month's U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding that he described as a failed "test" for Tehran.