Traffic through strait of Hormuz plummets after US and Iran trade strikes – Middle East crisis live

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Trump claims US will become ‘the guardian of the strait’ after reportedly the lowest levels of crossings in a month </p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/13/us-iran-war-missile-strikes-news-attacks-strait-of-hormuz">US launches new attack wave on Iran as Tehran says diplomacy has proven ‘futile’</a></p></li></ul><p>Bahrain’s military has accused Iran of targeting civilians with its latest attacks on the country, after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jul/13/us-iran-strikes-middle-east-strait-of-hormuz-military-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a5465048f08019173c613df#block-6a5465048f08019173c613df">Tehran said it had struck</a> US military facilities and infrastructure there earlier.</p><p>“Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its heinous attacks with missiles and drones that target civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” the general command of Bahrain’s military said, adding that air defences “intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian aerial attacks” this morning.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jul/13/us-iran-strikes-middle-east-strait-of-hormuz-military-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.