On 30 July, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces had completed a “massive wave” of strikes against Iranian targets in response to Tehran’s attempts to carry out missile attacks on US forces in the Persian Gulf.
“CENTCOM units struck dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran, including military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defence facilities, as well as naval assets,” according to a statement by the US armed forces on social media platform X.
Earlier, a senior US official confirmed to Radio Free Europe that the US military was carrying out strikes on Iranian territory.
Iranian state media reported strikes on several towns in the south-western province of Khuzestan, as well as on the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf.
According to CENTCOM, on 28 July, Qir forces launched several ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempt to launch a surprise attack on US troops stationed in the Middle East. The command added that all Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted.
The strikes come against the backdrop of a brief lull in hostilities between the United States and Iran, following 13 consecutive nights of US military strikes on targets, predominantly in the south of the country. In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at what it described as American targets in the Persian Gulf region.