Iran-US military strikes escalate

On July 30, 2026, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched ballistic missiles at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, destroying three US F-35 jets and damaging three others, in retaliation for a US airstrike on Iran — Qeshm Island. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed large-scale strikes on IRGC targets inside Iran on July 29, including command centers and missile facilities, in response to attempted Iranian missile attacks on US forces. Jordan intercepted five missiles from Iran. The IRGC warned countries assisting the US and asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to keep it closed. Over 50,000 US troops remain deployed in the Middle East.