US launches 'powerful' strikes on Iran after attempted attack on American troops
The US military has launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets following an attempted attack on American troops in the Middle East. This escalation follows a brief period of diplomatic negotiations and marks a continuation of the ongoing conflict that began in February.
Why it matters
The ongoing military engagement between the US and Iran poses significant risks to regional stability and global oil supply chains.
Image source, Reuters Published 30 July 2026, 02:01 BST Updated 13 minutes ago The US military says it has begun launching strikes against Iran in retaliation for an attempted surprise attack on American forces in the Middle East.
Centcom said on X the strikes were "a powerful response" to Tuesday's firing by Iran on US bases in Jordan and at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest hostilities came a day after the conflict expanded with the first publicly announced joint US-Saudi strikes, which targeted Iranian proxies in Iraq.
When the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in February, Trump said the war would last only a few weeks, but it has now gone on for five months with no end in sight.
The conflict has reignited after several days of relative calm this week.
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