The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on July 13, 2026 that it had begun a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran. The strikes target Iranian forces and are intended to protect civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement on X, CENTCOM wrote:

At 4:45 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, at the Commander in Chief's direction. These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and