U.S. and Saudi Forces Resume Attacks After Iran’s Missile Strike Ends Ceasefire
Iran’s July 28 missile assault ended a brief U.S.-Iran ceasefire, prompting coordinated U.S. and Saudi strikes against Iran-aligned militants in Iraq and raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.
Washington – A brief pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran collapsed after Tehran launched a ballistic missile attack on July 28 that U.S. forces intercepted within minutes. The strike, described by the Trump administration as a “surprise attack,” prompted U.S. Central Command to coordinate with Saudi Arabia in targeting Iran-aligned militants in eastern Iraq that had been responsible for drone attacks on American troops and Saudi energy infrastructure.
The United States had resumed bombing in early July following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, ending a week-long ceasefire. Four Americans were killed in the renewed fighting, bringing the total U.S. fatalities in the conflict to 20.
Saudi Arabia announced its participation in the joint strikes, saying its forces hit Iran-linked militias in Iraq in response to attacks on Saudi oil and gas facilities. Central Command confirmed the coordinated operations, stating the targets were “Iran-aligned terrorists.”
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said the United States would respond forcefully to Iranian aggression. He later reiterated a commitment to “hit them hard” in an interview with Fox News.
Analysts noted that the latest exchanges could expand the regional conflict that has been ongoing since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Iran appears to be trying to draw the United States into a prolonged war, while experts warned that targeting civilian infrastructure could violate international law.
U.S. Central Command warned that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies must cease attacks to avoid further U.S. military response. The administration’s next steps remain uncertain as political considerations, including upcoming midterm elections, may influence the intensity of future operations.