WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, July 31, 2026 — The United States carried out a new wave of airstrikes against dozens of Iranian military sites after Tehran launched ballistic missiles toward American forces stationed in Jordan.
U.S. Central Command said the two-hour operation took place between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. According to the military, the targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance positions and maritime capabilities.
American officials described Iran’s missile launch as an attempted surprise attack and said several incoming weapons were intercepted. Iran acknowledged targeting U.S. bases in Jordan but presented the action as retaliation for earlier American operations.
Iranian media reported that three civilians—a couple and their two-year-old child—were killed on Qeshm Island. It also reported the deaths of three Revolutionary Guard members. Those casualty figures had not been independently verified at the time of publication.
Why it matters: Continued exchanges between the United States and Iran increase the possibility of a wider regional conflict. Attacks near the Persian Gulf could also threaten commercial shipping and energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
