Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles toward an American military base in Jordan on Tuesday, an assault U.S. Central Command described as an attempted surprise attack. All of the missiles were intercepted, according to CENTCOM.
The strike marks Iran’s first ballistic missile attack against a U.S. base in the region since President Trump paused military action against Iran on Friday in an effort to give diplomacy another chance. The attack now threatens to unravel that fragile pause and could force Trump to decide whether to resume the military campaign.
Speaking to Axios on Monday, Trump said the U.S. remained in very deep talks with Iran but warned he would return to strong military action if diplomatic efforts collapsed. Asked how much time he was willing to give negotiations, Trump said there wasn’t much left, adding that things would either move quickly or not happen at all.
CENTCOM said the missiles were launched by forces from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at 5:45 p.m. ET, and that U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.
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In a separate development Tuesday evening, CENTCOM said American and Saudi fighter jets struck several logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq in response to what it described as more than 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks over the preceding 72 hours. Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry later confirmed its forces took part in the strikes, saying they were coordinated with CENTCOM.
The command said the attacks targeting U.S. forces had failed, and noted that Iran-aligned militias have attempted more than 600 attacks on American citizens and facilities in Iraq between February and April alone. CENTCOM warned that the IRGC and its proxy forces must halt these attacks to avoid further U.S. military retaliation.
The latest escalation follows an earlier attack this month in which Iran targeted the same U.S. airbase in Jordan, killing two American service members in a combined missile and drone assault, an attack that prompted Trump to launch what became a 13-night campaign of U.S. strikes against Iran.
Tuesday’s ballistic missile attack came just hours after Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for talks focused heavily on Iran, a meeting the White House described as positive and productive.
At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 28, 2026
