Washington: The US military announced it has conducted multiple strikes targeting sites associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in retaliation to Iranian assaults on American forces stationed in Jordan. This development follows President Donald Trump's pledge to respond forcefully to Iranian aggression.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the Central Command (CENTCOM) of the US military released a statement late on July 29, detailing the objectives of the strikes. The operation aimed at crippling Iran's military command centers, missile and drone facilities, as well as coastal surveillance and defense sites. The strikes, which lasted approximately two hours, also targeted Iran's maritime capabilities, aiming to reduce threats to American forces, commercial shipping, and Gulf nations.
The attacks were a response to Iran's confirmed firing of ballistic missiles at US military installations in Jordan. This escalation occurred despite ongoing efforts by Washington to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the five-month conflict. The recent breakdown of a June memorandum of understanding, which sought to halt hostilities for peace negotiations, has raised concerns about the potential expansion of the conflict across the Middle East.
Recent Iranian actions have included targeting locations in Egypt and US-affiliated groups in Iraq. Tehran's continued targeting of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz has further exacerbated tensions, highlighting the strategic significance of this waterway in the ongoing conflict.
Allison Minor, from the Atlantic Council's Project for Middle East Integration, highlighted the challenging position the US finds itself in, describing the situation as an "escalatory spiral" that is difficult to resolve. Minor emphasized Iran's determination to conclude the conflict on its own terms, showing little fear of continued confrontation with the US.
While Iranian missiles aimed at Jordan were intercepted, the Egyptian cabinet confirmed a drone attack that caused a fire on a US-owned gas storage tanker in Damietta, marking the first strike on Egyptian soil since the conflict began on February 28. In Kuwait, an Iranian assault reportedly caused substantial damage to a Chinese company's building, resulting in one fatality and significant destruction.
Despite these developments, Pakistan, which played a mediating role in the now-defunct memorandum of understanding, indicated ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at resolving the conflict, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi shared these updates with reporters in Islamabad on July 30.
President Trump, when questioned about the possibility of a peace agreement with Iran, expressed a willingness to allow negotiations to proceed, stating that "we're going to let them keep talking." He previously noted positive dialogues with Iran and a hopeful outlook towards reaching an agreement, although he did not rule out the resumption of military operations if talks failed.