US military launches further Iran strikes early July 13, citing IRGC threats to Strait of Hormuz shipping; Brent crude rises more than 4 percent

US forces struck Iranian targets in the early hours of Monday July 13, saying the aim was to degrade the [[irgc]]'s ability to target civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the [[strait-of-hormuz]]; Brent crude rose more than 4 percent as oil markets priced in continued conflict; US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to shipping even as [[iran]] and the United States continued to exchange attacks over control of the waterway

Summary

The United States military launched a new wave of strikes against Iran in the early hours of Monday July 13, saying the aim was to degrade the IRGC's ability to target civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose more than 4 percent as oil markets priced in the extended conflict. US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to shipping, in contradiction to the Irgc's formal closure declaration the previous day in Iran's IRGC closes the Strait of Hormuz and strikes six Gulf and Middle Eastern states after overnight US bombardment of Iranian cities. The strikes are the latest exchange in an escalating cycle of US airstrikes on Iran and Iranian retaliatory attacks on Gulf states.

The split

Al Jazeera leads with the economic impact, framing July 13 as another round of mutual "trade attacks" and anchoring the story in the 4 percent Brent crude spike. Gulf News, writing to UAE residents who have lived under active air-defence alerts since July 12, treats the strikes as a new operational emergency and focuses on travel and security guidance. Iran International, in live coverage, highlights Trump's claim that the Strait is open, a contested point given the IRGC's own closure declaration.

By the numbers

4+, percent Brent crude rose on July 13 as US-Iran strikes continued
3+, prior waves of US airstrikes on Iran before July 13

Why it matters

A new US strike wave on July 13 signals that the conflict is not tapering off after the July 12 escalation. Each new attack round risks triggering a matching Irgc response against Gulf states. The 4 percent Brent crude rise shows oil markets are pricing in continued Strait of Hormuz disruption, while Trump's assertion that the Strait is open leaves shippers navigating conflicting official signals.

What to watch

Whether Iran launches retaliatory strikes on Gulf states in response to the July 13 US strikes
Whether Brent crude prices continue rising or stabilise as traders assess Hormuz traffic
Whether ceasefire talks in Muscat resume, after the channel opened in Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi visits Oman for talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz as the US-Iran ceasefire collapses

Regional takes · 2

▸ Qatar-based pan-Arab broadcaster; focuses on the 4 percent Brent crude jump and frames the strikes as ongoing mutual US-Iran "trade attacks" over Hormuz

Al Jazeera · Qatar · en · Jul 13, 2026 02:58Z

Al Jazeera leads with the oil price response to the July 13 US strikes: Brent crude rising more than 4 percent as the US and Iran continued to exchange attacks. Framing the conflict as mutual 'trade attacks', the outlet centers this as an energy and economic story, consistent with Qatar's exposure as a major LNG exporter whose own facilities have been in range of Iranian fire.

“Brent crude climbs more than 4 percent as Washington and Tehran clash over control of critical waterway.”

Source ↗

▸ UAE-based daily writing to Gulf residents; frames the July 13 strikes in terms of security alerts, travel conditions, and oil market impact for Emiratis

Gulf News · UAE · en · Jul 13, 2026 03:10Z

Gulf News writes directly to UAE residents about the practical implications of the July 13 US strikes: security alerts, travel conditions, and oil market disruption. By labelling the strikes 'fresh', the outlet distinguishes them from the July 12 exchange, treating this as a new day's escalation rather than a continuation of overnight events.

“US launches new Iran strikes as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise. Key updates for UAE residents on travel, security alerts and oil market impact today.”