US and Iran exchange strikes, close Strait of Hormuz

A dangerous cycle of military strikes between the United States and Iran escalated sharply over the weekend, expanding to directly involve multiple Gulf nations and threatening the security of the world's most critical oil shipping lane. The exchange began with a U.S. response to an Iranian attack on a commercial ship and culminated in widespread Iranian missile and drone assaults on American military facilities across the region on Monday, July 13, 2026.

The latest round of violence was triggered after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck the Cyprus-flagged container ship MV GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, July 11, causing significant damage. In retaliation, U.S. Central Command launched a large-scale operation on Sunday, July 12, striking approximately 140 Iranian targets, including missile and drone launch sites, air defense systems, radar installations, and naval assets. U.S. officials stated the aim was to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping. A subsequent wave of U.S. strikes hit dozens more targets early Monday.

Iran responded with a major retaliatory barrage, launching projectiles against countries hosting U.S. forces. The...