The US military said it had launched a fresh wave of air strikes on targets inside Iran to help secure the Strait of Hormuz just hours after President Donald Trump said he was reinstating a blockade of the key waterway."These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command said in a statement late on July 13, the third consecutive day of initiating attacks.Iranian state media reported explosions on several islands of Iran's southern coast, including Kish, Qeshm, and Abu Musa.
The strikes are the latest sign of the unraveling of an accord signed last month setting out conditions under which the two sides would negotiate a peace deal.US media reported earlier on July 13 that Trump over the weekend notified Congress that the United States was once again at war with Iran, starting a 60-day period to use the military for strikes without having to seek formal approval from lawmakers. Speaking to reporters in the White House late on July 13, Trump said the attacks were aimed at disabling Iran's capabilities to disrupt maritime traffic in the strait.He added that despite three consecutive nights of attacks on Iran, a deal to end the fighting is still possible.
