US strikes IRGC bases after Iran missile attack

The Middle East moved a step closer to a broader regional conflict after the United States launched large-scale airstrikes against dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities across Iran in retaliation for Tehran’s ballistic missile attack targeting American forces stationed in the region.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted military command centers, drone infrastructure, weapons depots and other strategic IRGC installations during a coordinated two-hour campaign. US officials said the strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten American troops, commercial shipping lanes and allied Gulf nations.

Iranian state media reported that at least three people were killed during strikes on Qeshm Island, while authorities vowed that the country would continue defending its territory against what it described as “American aggression.”

The crisis quickly spread beyond Iran’s borders. Jordan announced that its air defence systems intercepted five missiles following Iran’s confirmed launch toward US military installations in the kingdom. Washington maintained that all missiles directed at American bases were successfully intercepted, preventing casualties among US personnel.

In another major development, US and Saudi forces carried out coordinated strikes against Iran-backed armed groups operating in eastern Iraq after drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory targeted Saudi oil facilities. The joint operation marked the first publicly acknowledged military action conducted together by Washington and Riyadh against Iran-aligned militias.

Regional instability deepened further after a fire broke out aboard a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta. Although maritime security experts suggested the blaze may have resulted from a drone strike, Egyptian officials confirmed only the fire and said investigations into its cause were continuing.

The latest escalation comes against the backdrop of months of confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel. Fighting resumed after disputes over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz ended a short-lived ceasefire reached in June.

US President Donald Trump reiterated that America would respond decisively to attacks on its forces while insisting diplomatic efforts remained active. However, continued military exchanges around the Strait of Hormuz have complicated negotiations and increased concerns over global energy supplies.

Iran has claimed it targeted three tankers attempting to pass through what it called an unauthorized route in the strait, while rejecting an Omani-backed proposal supported by Gulf states for joint management of the crucial waterway.

The conflict has also rattled global energy markets, with Brent crude prices climbing above $90 per barrel before easing later in trading.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces said at least 20 of their fighters were killed in the US-Saudi strikes, prompting Baghdad to condemn the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty while urging all armed groups to halt cross-border military operations.

Saudi Arabia has also intensified diplomatic efforts, with Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman meeting US Vice President JD Vance in Washington to urge restraint. Saudi officials reportedly warned that expanding military operations against Yemen’s Houthis and Iran-backed militias in Iraq could trigger unpredictable consequences across the Middle East, highlighting growing fears that the conflict could widen even further.