U.S. Military Claims to Begin "Third Consecutive Night" of Strikes Against Iran
On July 13, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Huang Qiang and Yan Liang) that the U.S. Central Command stated on social media that at 4:45 PM Eastern Time on the same day, the U.S. military began its "third consecutive night" of strikes against Iran.
The U.S. Central Command claimed that these strikes would continue to impose heavy costs on the Iranian military and weaken its ability to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier that day, U.S. President Trump, in an interview with a host from a U.S. radio station, said, "Tonight we will hit them hard, and tomorrow we will hit them hard as well." He also stated that the memorandum of understanding reached between the U.S. and Iran was merely a "test," which in itself had little binding force, and that Iran "failed to withstand this test."
The U.S. military began airstrikes against Iran on July 13, 2023, at 16:45 EDT, marking the third consecutive night of such operations. These strikes are intended to impose significant costs on Iranian forces and diminish their ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump emphasized the U.S. commitment to continue these actions, describing the existing U.S.-Iran memorandum as a mere test with limited constraints.
- U.S. military commenced airstrikes against Iran on July 13, 2023.
- This marks the third consecutive night of strikes.
- The strikes aim to impose costs on Iranian forces and reduce their capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz.
- President Trump stated that the U.S. will continue to strike Iran.
- The memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran is described as a 'test' with little binding power.