U.S. Central Command said American and Saudi aircraft hit weapons and logistics sites across eastern Iraq after more than 30 Iran-directed drone attacks and an attempted missile strike on U.S. forces.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
U.S. and Saudi Arabian fighter aircraft carried out coordinated strikes against Iran-aligned forces in eastern Iraq on Tuesday after a series of drone attacks and what U.S. Central Command described as an attempted surprise missile assault on American personnel in the Middle East.
CENTCOM said the July 28 operation targeted multiple weapons and logistics facilities used by groups directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The joint military response followed more than 30 aerial drone attacks over a 72-hour period against U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
The command announced the strikes hours after reporting that Iran had launched multiple ballistic missiles at American forces. The missiles were intercepted before reaching their targets, according to CENTCOM.
“At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness,” CENTCOM said in a statement shared through an official social media post.
The military action followed an earlier report of the surprise attack targeting a U.S. base.
CENTCOM said the attacks against American personnel were unsuccessful and warned that continued operations by Iran-aligned militias could trigger additional military action.
“U.S. Central Command and the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes in Iraq, July 28, against Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure,” CENTCOM said.
“U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours,” the statement continued.
“The unwarranted attacks against U.S. forces were not successful.”
CENTCOM also cited a broader pattern of attempted attacks by Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq.
“From February through April 2026, there were more than 600 attempted attacks on U.S. citizens and facilities by Iran-aligned terrorist militias in Iraq,” the command said.
“The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response.”
The joint operation marked a direct military response by both Washington and Riyadh to attacks affecting American forces and Saudi infrastructure. CENTCOM did not provide immediate details about casualties or the extent of damage at the locations struck in Iraq.
The confrontation unfolded after President Donald Trump ended a nearly two-week bombing campaign against Iran to continue negotiations scheduled for Friday.
Despite the pause in that campaign, U.S. forces remained at an elevated readiness level as Iran and its allied militias continued launching missiles and drones across the region.
The interception of the ballistic missiles prevented damage to the targeted American positions, according to CENTCOM. The command characterized the launch as a deliberate effort to catch U.S. forces off guard, but said defensive systems successfully stopped every missile involved.
The subsequent U.S.-Saudi strikes were directed at facilities believed to support the militias’ ability to store weapons, organize attacks and maintain logistical operations in eastern Iraq.
CENTCOM’s warning indicated that further attacks on U.S. personnel, American facilities or Saudi energy assets could result in additional strikes against the IRGC and the armed groups it supports.
Original article
Comments