The U.S. military ended its airstrikes on Iranian territory at dawn on the 13th, six hours after they began on the night of the 12th. As the two countries' shows of force over control of the Strait of Hormuz escalated into large-scale strikes tantamount to a full-scale war, military tensions in the Middle East are rising again.
According to reports from major outlets including the AP on the 13th (local time), U.S. Central Command announced at 2:33 a.m. that it had "completed strikes on dozens of military facilities inside Iran." In the strikes, the U.S. military focused on destroying Iran's air defenses, radar bases, missile and drone equipment, and small vessels.
U.S. Central Command said in an official statement that "the Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime chokepoint for global commerce," and that "Iran cannot control this strait." It added, "Despite Iran's continued and unjust attacks, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations, U.S. forces are postured to ensure that commercial vessels can enjoy freedom of navigation."
Earlier, the U.S. military said the strikes were an immediate retaliatory measure against Iran's military provocations. On the 12th, Iran carried out military attacks toward Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Oman. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain. U.S. President Donald Trump said on NBC on the 12th, "We bombed them (Iran) last night without mercy."
Given both sides' willingness to risk a full-scale war, the military standoff and tensions over the Strait of Hormuz are expected to continue indefinitely. Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, vowed "strong bloody retaliation" against U.S. military attacks in a statement on the 11th.