US Strikes Iran for Second Night; Tehran Closes Hormuz, Hits Gulf Bases

U.S. Central Command announced completion of a new wave of strikes against Iran during the night of July 12-13, targeting over 80 sites including more than 60 IRGC assets in and around the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at degrading Iran's capacity to attack commercial shipping. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes, declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, and warned Gulf states that supporting U.S. military operations would make them 'legitimate targets.' Iranian forces subsequently struck missile depots at Jordan's Prince Hassan Air Base, a U.S. drone control center at Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base, and targets at two Kuwaiti military installations. Oil prices jumped over 3% on Iran's Hormuz closure declaration, though U.S. military authorities stated the strait remains open. The American Conservative's Iran War tracker marks this as Day 135 of the conflict, and a prior CBS News report that Iran had 'apologized' and pledged to halt ship attacks appears to have been overtaken by events.