On Wednesday night, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) launched an extensive aerial assault on Iranian targets, directly countering the ballistic missile attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that occurred on Tuesday against U.S. military positions in the Middle East.
According to a CENTCOM official statement, the mission wrapped up at 10 p.m. Eastern Time and was characterized as a "heavy wave" of strikes. The attacks targeted military command centers, missile and drone installations, surveillance and coastal defense sites, and the IRGC's maritime capabilities.
The Central Command emphasized that the primary goal was to "further reduce threats from Iran and its proxies to U.S. forces, maritime commerce, and neighboring Gulf countries."
On Tuesday, the IRGC launched several ballistic missiles in what CENTCOM described as an attempted surprise assault. All of these missiles were successfully intercepted by U.S. defense systems.
Reports from Reuters and Axios indicated that the intended target was a military base in Jordan, potentially the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, with Jordan claiming to have intercepted five missiles over its territory.
Background of the Escalating Conflict
This recent exchange of hostilities is part of a broader conflict that has seen periods of intensification and de-escalation since the start of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israel offensive that began on February 28, 2026. The stated aim of this operation was to dismantle the Iranian regime's missile program and defense capabilities.
Following 38 days of intense bombings—during which the Pentagon reported over 7,000 targets hit and more than 100 Iranian vessels damaged or destroyed—Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding in June in Switzerland, establishing a 60-day truce.
The ceasefire was short-lived. On July 6 and 7, Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the agreement "null and void" on July 8 during the NATO summit in Ankara. CENTCOM promptly resumed its bombing campaign.
On July 18, Iran officially suspended its commitments under the memorandum. Nine days later, on July 27, Trump ordered a temporary halt to the attacks to allow for negotiations, but Tehran refused to acknowledge this as an actual ceasefire. The following day, the IRGC responded with the missile attack that triggered Wednesday's renewed offensive.
Impact on Global Maritime Traffic
The conflict has severely disrupted global maritime traffic: ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz have dropped by 70% since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, according to data from the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.
CENTCOM highlighted that over 50,000 U.S. military personnel remain stationed in the Middle East, maintaining a stance that is "highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready."
Insights into the U.S.-Iran Conflict
What triggered the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran?
The U.S. airstrikes were a response to a ballistic missile attack by Iran's Revolutionary Guard on U.S. military positions in the Middle East.
How successful were the U.S. defenses against Iran's missile attack?
The U.S. defenses were highly effective, intercepting all missiles launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
What was the aim of Operation Epic Fury?
Operation Epic Fury aimed to dismantle the Iranian regime's missile program and defense capabilities.