The United States launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets on Thursday after Tehran fired ballistic missiles at American forces in Jordan, ending a brief pause in direct exchanges and drawing Saudi Arabia deeper into the conflict.
Overnight on July 28-29, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired five ballistic missiles at US positions in Jordan in what American officials called a “surprise attack.” Jordan intercepted all the missiles. It was the first Iranian strike on US troops since July 24.
US President Donald Trump responded forcefully, saying Iran would “get a beating” and that American forces would hit hard. On July 30, US Central Command confirmed it had completed a “heavy wave of strikes” against dozens of IRGC targets inside Iran, including command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance sites and maritime assets.
In a related operation, the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted joint strikes on Iran-backed militia bases across several Iraqi provinces, killing at least 20 fighters. The raids marked Saudi Arabia’s first public participation in such operations in months.
The latest flare-up comes after the collapse of a June 17 memorandum of understanding between Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that had sought to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump declared the agreement “over” on July 8 following Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.
Iran has rejected an Omani proposal for joint management of the Strait of Hormuz and continues to insist on significant control over shipping routes. Proxy groups have also stepped up activity, with Yemen’s Houthis attacking Saudi-linked targets and Hezbollah launching a drone at an Israeli vehicle in southern Lebanon.Oil prices remain elevated near $90 a barrel amid ongoing concerns over shipping through the strategic waterway. Both sides maintain limited diplomatic contacts through regional mediators, but prospects for a durable ceasefire appear limited as the conflict enters its sixth month.
