US and Saudi Arabia Kill 4 IRGC Members in Joint Airstrikes in Iraq

The escalation reached a breaking point on July 29, when President Trump announced that the U.S. would give Iran “a lesson” in response to missile fire targeting American forces in the Middle East. This military action was not a solitary effort; the U.S. coordinated with Saudi Arabia to strike in Iraq.

The IRGC Missile Strike and U.S. Interception

The catalyst for the joint airstrikes was a series of ballistic missile launches. According to a statement from the U.S. Central Command, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched multiple missiles on July 28 at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time (July 29, 1:15 a.m. Iran time) in an attempt to launch a surprise attack on U.S. forces deployed in the region.

Saudi and US Forces Launch Joint Airstrikes on Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq

The missiles targeted a U.S. Air Force base and command center located within Jordan. While Iranian state television broadcast footage of the launches, U.S. Central Command confirmed that all missiles were successfully intercepted and failed to hit their targets. Despite the failed strike, U.S. forces in the Middle East remain on high alert and maintain a high state of combat readiness.

Joint Operations in Diyala Province

In response, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched coordinated strikes against Iranian-supported Shia militias in Iraq. A deputy governor of Iran’s Central Province confirmed that the joint operation targeted the Diyala Province, where four members of the IRGC were killed.

Houthis Declare Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia Threatening Oil Supplies

President Trump stated that the U.S. coordinated with Iraqi authorities before striking the militia targets. He further indicated that the U.S. has not ruled out additional strikes against Iranian proxies in the region. This military cooperation aligns with a broader regional struggle for dominance between Saudi Arabia, a leading Sunni Muslim power, and Iran, the largest Shia Muslim country, which have been locked in a struggle across Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.

Tariffs and the Threat of Further Escalation

Beyond kinetic military action, the U.S. is weighing economic warfare. President Trump expressed a desire to move beyond standard sanctions by adding provisions to a Russian sanctions bill that would authorize the U.S. to impose tariffs on Iran.

U.S. Soldiers Killed in Jordan and Iraq as Military Strikes Intensify

Iran knows this blow was inevitable and requested that the United States not launch a strike. President Trump, via Sohu

The administration is also addressing maritime security. Trump noted he has received briefings regarding a drone attack on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker in Egyptian waters, asserting that the problem will be solved.