U.S. and Iran exchange heavy strikes in major escalation of conflict

Published Jul 30, 09:35 PM UTC

On 29 July 2026, U.S. Central Command announced it had conducted a heavy wave of strikes against Iran, targeting military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched strikes it said were aimed at U.S. military facilities in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. The exchange marks a significant escalation in direct military confrontation between the United States and Iran, with attacks spanning multiple countries in the region. The report, sourced from the International Crisis Group, highlights the rapid tit-for-tat nature of the conflict and the broadening geographic scope of hostilities.