[Anchor]

The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes once again. This marks the fourth clash in just one week, with military confrontations occurring for two consecutive days, leaving the Strait of Hormuz in a state of deep freeze.

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the story.

[Reporter]

In the dark of night, cruise missiles are launched in succession from a warship.

In the early hours of July 13 local time, the U.S. military launched another airstrike against Iran.

The U.S. Central Command stated that the strike was carried out under the direction of President Trump to weaken Iran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported that a series of powerful explosions were heard in several southern regions, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and Jask.

Iran immediately retaliated.

It launched an attack targeting Bahrain, where the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is located, and missile alerts were issued across Bahrain.

The exact scale of the damage has not yet been confirmed.

Despite a ceasefire agreement, the U.S. and Iran continue to clash over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. military has struck approximately 140 military targets within Iran in recent airstrikes, and in response, Iran has launched successive attacks on U.S. military facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.

While President Trump has claimed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, contrary to Iran's claims of a blockade, Iran maintains that the strait is currently impassable.

A military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader reiterated the country's refusal to relinquish control, stating, "Hormuz is more important than dozens of atomic bombs."

[Iranian State TV Anchor: Authorities have stated that the strait is currently impassable due to illegal activities by the U.S. military in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.]

As tensions in the Middle East escalate rapidly once again, international oil prices surged by more than 4 percent today.

(Video Editing: Jung Seong-hun)