CENTCOM Resumes Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports, Carries Out Third Consecutive Night Of Strikes On Iran

KUWAIT AND STRAIT OF HORMUZ — CENTCOM announced it would resume the naval blockade of Iranian ports on July 14 at 8 p.m. UTC (11 p.m. local Kuwait time) at the direction of the Commander in Chief.

On July 14, CENTCOM began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran. The command stated that these strikes will continue imposing costs on Iranian forces and reduce their capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The previous wave of strikes on July 12 targeted Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats, and included the first combat employment of one-way attack sea drones by U.S. forces against a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base. CENTCOM stated that the strikes “degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.”

The M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship with IMO number 9401271, was attacked by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces approximately nine nautical miles east of Oman on July 11.

One civilian crew member remains missing, and the vessel suffered onboard fire and significant engine-room damage that prevented it from continuing its journey. The vessel had its Automatic Identification System switched off at the time of the incident.

CENTCOM forces struck Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats using U.S. fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones for the first time in combat operations.

Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base. Unclassified footage of the sea drone operation was released.

CENTCOM also addressed Iranian claims regarding strikes in Kuwait, noting there are zero reports of U.S. service member deaths or injuries in the region and that all personnel are accounted for.

The Command publicly corrected a claim by an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy commander that no foreign vessels may pass through the Strait of Hormuz without being identified, tracked, and monitored by Iranian forces.

CENTCOM stated that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, and that it remains an international waterway. It said that U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to keep it that way, adding that Traffic is flowing.

The Command said that its forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas, and that the U.S. military continues to support traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade.

The resumption follows the initial implementation from April 13 to June 18, during which CENTCOM forces redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and allowed over 50 commercial vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass through the blockade during the two-month period, according to the release.

All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.

President Donald J. Trump stated that the Hormuz Strait is open and will remain open with or without Iran. He added the United States is reinstating the Iranian blockade, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving.

All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait. The United States will be known as the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait” and, as a matter of fairness, will be reimbursed at the rate of 20 percent on all cargo shipped for any and all costs necessary to provide safety and security to this section of the world. The process and formation will begin immediately.

Maritime Incident South of Aden

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations issued Warning 084-26 on July 13 at 10:19 a.m. UTC (1:19 p.m. local Aden time).

The warning reported that an eastbound tanker traveling in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor approximately 50 nautical miles south of Aden, Yemen, according to the warning, was approached by six small boats from the starboard side.

One small boat closed to within five cables of the tanker. The armed security team on board fired warning shots.

The other five small boats remained at approximately one nautical mile. Authorities are investigating the incident. Vessels were advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

Bahrain Civil Defense Alert

The Ministry of Interior of Bahrain posted on July 13 at 10:39 a.m. UTC (1:39 p.m. local Bahrain time) that the alarm siren had been activated.

The post requested citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels.

The activation occurred on the same day as the UKMTO warning south of Aden and Iranian retaliatory claims.

The timing aligned with heightened cross-border developments reported the same day. Civil defense channels remained the primary method for public updates during the alert period.

Official Statements

• U.S. Central Command, July 12 statement: “At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable.”

• U.S. Central Command, July 12 statement: “There are zero reports of U.S. service member deaths or injuries in the region. All personnel are accounted for.”

• U.S. Central Command, July 12 statement: “CENTCOM forces struck Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats using U.S. fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones for the first time. Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels have the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations. Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.”

• U.S. Central Command, July 12-13 statement: “The Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway. U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available despite unwarranted Iranian aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations. Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing.”

• U.S. Central Command, July 13 statement: “CLAIM: The Iranian commander for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy recently said on state-owned media that no foreign vessels may pass through the Strait of Hormuz without being identified, tracked, and monitored by Iranian forces. FACT: Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. It remains an international waterway. U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to keep it that way.”

• U.S. Central Command public release, July 13, 2026: “At the Commander in Chief’s direction, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on July 14 at 4 p.m. ET. CENTCOM forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The U.S. military continues to support traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade. The resumption of the U.S. blockade against Iran follows the initial implementation from April 13 to June 18. CENTCOM forces redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and allowed over 50 commercial vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass through the blockade during the two-month period. All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches. Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice.”

• U.S. Central Command, July 14 statement: “At 4:45 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, at the Commander in Chief’s direction. 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.”

• President Donald J. Trump statement, July 13, 2026: “The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait. The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World. The process and formation will begin immediately.”

• U.S. Central Command, July 11-12 statement: “At 7:15 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engineroom damage. Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed. In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait. The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief.”

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 12 statement: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the aggressive US attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past 24 hours. These barbaric attacks are not only a gross violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, especially Article 2, Paragraph 4, but also a serious threat to international peace and security and have rendered fruitless all efforts of the past few months to reduce tension and establish peace in the West Asian region.”

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 12 statement: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, while emphasizing its determination to defend Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against the military aggression of the United States and any other aggressor, warns against any participation and cooperation with aggressors. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that neighboring countries are obligated under international law to prevent aggressors from using their territory and facilities to commit military aggression against Iran, and the origin and source of attacks against Iran will be the legitimate target of defensive strikes by the brave armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps via IRINA News Agency, July 13 statement: “In the fourth phase of the retaliatory operations, the IRGC Ground Forces targeted the US child-killing army’s surface-to-surface missile base in Kuwait, setting fire to two “HIMARS” missile launchers and missile-packed warehouses, completely destroying them.”

• Ministry of Interior, Bahrain, July 13 statement: “The alarm siren has been activated. Citizens and residents are requested to remain calm, head to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels.”