Trump Vows Hard Retaliation After Iranian Missile Attack in Jordan

The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated significantly on July 29, 2026, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a surprise ballistic missile attack targeting the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and U.S. Central Command headquarters in Jordan. While the U.S. military and Jordanian forces successfully intercepted all five missiles, the attack ended a multi-day lull in hostilities intended for diplomatic engagement.

In immediate response, Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran hard, stating the U.S. would "beat the f---ing s--t out of" the Islamic Republic. The U.S. Central Command executed a heavy wave of retaliatory strikes against dozens of IRGC facilities, including military command centers, drone sites, and coastal defenses, with reported casualties on Qeshm Island. Simultaneously, U.S. and Saudi Arabian forces conducted joint airstrikes against IRGC-aligned logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq. These strikes killed at least 20 members of the Popular Mobilization Forces and several Iranian advisers, serving as retaliation for over 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks on Saudi energy facilities.

The regional crisis expanded as Houthi rebels attacked Saudi oil tankers and facilities, and a drone strike ignited fires on U.S.-owned natural gas vessels at Egypt's Damietta port. These events drove Brent crude prices above $90 a barrel. Despite the military escalation, Trump maintained that negotiations continue, including discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Omani mediators regarding shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran continues to blockade.