U.S. Launches 13th Straight Night of Strikes Against Iran

United States forces launched their thirteenth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets on Thursday. The ongoing operation is designed to impose accountability on Iran and diminish the threats posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to commercial navigation.

The strikes commenced at 6:45 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, according to U.S. Central Command (Centcom). While Centcom confirmed the operations, they did not provide specific details regarding the objectives hit during this latest round of attacks.

The U.S. campaign seeks to degrade the IRGC's capabilities and safeguard the passage of merchant vessels. This effort unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint for global energy transport.

Adding to the pressure, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that he is considering using frozen Iranian funds to compensate for damages inflicted upon vessels by the Islamic Republic. The exchange of fire between the U.S. and Iran has now spanned 13 days since a previous truce collapsed, intensifying concerns over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.