US Launches 13th Night of Strikes Against Iran as Tehran Rejects Ceasefire Deal and Houthi Tensions Rise

WASHINGTON — The United States military has launched its 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, escalating regional tensions as Tehran officially rejects a newly proposed ceasefire deal and Iranian-backed Houthi forces resume attacks on commercial shipping in critical Middle Eastern waterways.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that forces successfully completed the 13th straight night of strikes on July 23, with operations beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET and concluding around 9 p.m. ET. The military targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities. According to CENTCOM, these actions are designed to hold Iran accountable and further diminish the threat the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps poses to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The military escalation follows reports that a U.S. ceasefire proposal, initially presented by President Trump to the Iraqi prime minister during a recent Oval Office visit, was subsequently delivered to Iranian officials only to be publicly rejected. Hal Kempfer, a retired Marine Intelligence Officer, national security analyst, and host of the Strap podcast, noted the unusual diplomatic routing.

“Using the Iraqi prime minister to carry a ceasefire proposal to the Iranians is a rather unusual route,” Kempfer explained. “It tells you where negotiations are that we don’t have another way to get that proposal to them.” He added that the contents of the proposal remain vague, though reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be a logical component.

The ongoing campaign has also seen the reintroduction of B-1B heavy bombers, marking a significant tactical shift. While B-52s and B-2 stealth bombers were utilized earlier in the conflict—including a notable long-range strike on nuclear sites in June of last year—the B-1B offers unique operational advantages. Kempfer highlighted that a single B-1B can carry 24 2,000-pound precision-guided JDAM bombs, compared to four on an F-18 or up to six on an F-35.

“B-1Bs provide an ability to put a lot of ordnance onto a target area very quickly,” Kempfer stated, noting their effectiveness for tactical roles, amphibious assault support, or striking island facilities in the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. In response to the bomber deployments, Iran has reportedly threatened the military base in England from which the aircraft operate.

Concurrently, the conflict has severely impacted global energy markets, with oil prices spiking above $100 a barrel. The Houthis have effectively choked off the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, compounding the navigational dangers in the Strait of Hormuz. This disruption halts a crucial maritime route for Saudi oil heading to Asia, forcing a heavier reliance on the East-West pipeline, which moves over 7 million barrels a day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Southeast Asian nations are currently holding emergency meetings, expressing severe concern over the shutdown of this trade route and their dwindling oil reserves.

Addressing the renewed maritime threats, President Trump issued a stark warning on Truth Social, noting that while the Houthis had acted responsibly during the broader conflict with Iran, they recently began shooting at Saudi Arabian ships again. The President declared that the U.S. would hold Iran directly responsible for any further Houthi aggression, labeling the group as an Iranian proxy and threatening “major military punishment” for both Iran and the Houthis.

The regional security architecture faces further strain as friction between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis intensifies. Saudi forces recently targeted a major airport and air base utilized by the Houthi movement. This threatens a fragile, five-year ceasefire between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.

Kempfer warned that if this ceasefire collapses, it could trigger a renewed civil war and heavy airstrikes. However, he cautioned that countering the Houthis remains a highly difficult military operation, as they are well dug into the hills, equipped with drones and missiles, and intimately familiar with the terrain.