Trump Orders Heavy Strikes on Iran After Jordan Missile Attack

President Donald Trump authorized a heavy wave of retaliatory airstrikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on July 29 and 30, 2026, following an attempted surprise ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and Central Command headquarters in Jordan. While U.S. and Jordanian forces intercepted the incoming missiles, Trump vowed that Iran would "get a beating" and that the U.S. would "hit them very hard."

The U.S. response targeted dozens of IRGC command centers, missile and drone facilities, and maritime capabilities across southern Iran, including Qeshm Island and Khuzestan province. These strikes caused civilian casualties on Qeshm Island, which prompted further Iranian retaliation, including missile strikes on U.S. assets in Jordan and a fatal attack on a Chinese firm's building in Kuwait.

Simultaneously, the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted joint precision strikes against Iran-aligned militias in eastern Iraq, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). These operations, a response to over 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, killed at least 20 fighters. The Iraqi government condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, contradicting Trump's claims of coordination with Baghdad.

The conflict has severely disrupted global energy markets, with Brent crude prices spiking toward $90 a barrel. Tensions remain high as Iran maintains a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi rebels in Yemen target Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. Despite the escalation, Trump has indicated that diplomacy remains possible, though Iran has denied seeking direct negotiations.