US intercepts Iranian ballistic missiles, then hits Iran-aligned militias in Iraq with Saudi Arabia

Surprise missile attack

On July 28, at 17:45 EDT (21:45 GMT), Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched several ballistic missiles in what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described as a "surprise attack attempt" on American forces stationed in the Middle East. All the missiles were intercepted, and the intended base in Jordan was not struck. An initial U.S. estimate put the number of missiles at no more than four.

All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and on high alert.

The salvo was the first ballistic missile attack on an American base in the region since President Donald Trump had suspended the bombing campaign against Iran the previous Friday to give diplomacy a chance. A day before the launch, Trump said Washington was engaged in "very advanced talks" with Tehran, warning that time was short.

"It either goes fast or not at all," he added. But Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei contradicted the claim.

We are not currently negotiating with the United States.

Joint U.S.-Saudi retaliation

Within hours of the interception, CENTCOM announced that American and Saudi fighter jets had struck "numerous logistics targets and weapons depots" belonging to Iran-aligned militias in eastern Iraq. The operation was a direct response to more than 30 drone attacks directed by the IRGC over the preceding 72 hours, targeting Saudi energy infrastructure and U.S. forces.

This is a clear message that we will not leave these attempts without a reply.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry confirmed its participation, a notable step given that the kingdom had largely avoided direct involvement in the conflict so far.

Hormuz and the tanker incident

Separately, the IRGC claimed its forces struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and forced them to stop after the vessels ignored warnings about an "unsafe and illegal route." The IRGC asserted it remains in full control of the strategic waterway. Reuters could not immediately verify the claim. Before the current hostilities, roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait.

A fragile pause collapses

The missile attack and the joint strikes broke a three-day lull in direct exchanges between Washington and Tehran. That pause had followed a 13-day American bombing campaign in southern Iran that Washington said targeted military infrastructure such as tunnels and bridges, causing dozens of casualties. Trump had said last Friday that he was halting the strikes to allow negotiations, but the Tuesday launch now threatens to close that diplomatic window.

The wider campaign

Between February and April, U.S. officials say more than 600 attacks on American citizens and facilities in Iraq were attributed to Iran-aligned militias, a figure that underscores the scale of the shadow war before the recent flare-up. In the last three days alone, over 30 drone attacks were coordinated by the IRGC.