US resumes air strikes on Iran after missile attack on American base in Jordan

The renewed US strikes represent a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran at a time when indirect diplomatic contacts are reportedly continuing through regional mediators.US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)The United States on Thursday resumed air strikes on targets inside Iran, ending a brief pause in military operations, according to an Axios report that cited a senior US official.The fresh strikes came after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles toward a US military base in Jordan earlier this week, an attack that US Central Command (CENTCOM) said was thwarted after all incoming missiles were intercepted.CENTCOM said the missiles were fired from Iranian territory in what it described as an "attempted surprise attack" on US forces in the Middle East. While the command did not identify the intended target, US media reports, including Axios, said the missiles were aimed at an American base in Jordan. The missile attack marked the first direct ballistic missile strike by Iran on a US military installation since Washington paused its military campaign against Tehran to allow space for diplomatic efforts. US President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the Iranian missile launch, warning that Tehran would face a forceful response. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said the United States would respond decisively to any attacks on American forces.We're going to beat the f**ing s**t of them. We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating," Trump said, according to comments relayed by a Fox News correspondent. In a separate development, the United States and Saudi Arabia launched coordinated strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq late Tuesday, with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reporting at least 20 fatalities. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation targeted logistics hubs and weapons facilities in eastern Iraq, describing it as a response to more than 30 drone attacks over the previous three days that it said were orchestrated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.The operation followed Saudi Arabia's announcement that its air defence systems had intercepted drones aimed at oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province. Riyadh blamed Iran-aligned armed groups operating from Iraqi territory for the attempted attacks.The renewed US strikes represent a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran at a time when indirect diplomatic contacts are reportedly continuing through regional mediators.The latest developments come after the United States suspended a bombing campaign against Iran last week. US officials had indicated that military operations were being paused to assess the situation and explore the possibility of diplomacy.Earlier this week, Trump said Washington and Tehran were engaged in "good talks" and suggested there was a chance of reaching an agreement, while warning that military action could resume if negotiations failed."We're having good talks. I think there's a good chance that something could happen, and if it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago," Trump told reporters.The renewed strikes also followed Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, where Iran was among the key topics discussed. The White House described the talks as "positive and productive."The latest exchange of attacks has raised fresh concerns about a broader regional confrontation, with both Washington and Tehran signalling a willingness to continue military action even as diplomatic channels remain open.- EndsPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 05:37 IST