US carries out ‘heavy wave’ of retaliatory strikes on Iran as conflict shows no sign of calming

The United States has recently conducted a "heavy wave" of retaliatory strikes against Iranian military targets, including missile and drone facilities, as well as command centers, on July 29 and 30, 2026. These actions followed an attempted surprise attack by Iran on July 28, where ballistic missiles were launched at a U.S. base in Jordan. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, and no U.S. casualties or damage were reported. However, Iranian state media indicated that three Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers were killed in the U.S. strikes.

This recent escalation marks a renewed intensity in the ongoing five-month conflict between the two nations, which initially began on February 28, 2026, with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. A prior ceasefire had been in effect, but Iran allegedly broke the period of calm by initiating the surprise attack on U.S. forces, signifying a shift in its approach to the conflict. Jordan also reported intercepting five Iranian missiles on July 30.

The broader conflict has also seen wider regional impacts, including a drone attack on a U.S.-owned gas tanker at Egypt's Damietta Port on July 29, causing fires on two ships. The U.S. Central Command has also reportedly redirected numerous commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as it continues to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports.