As Iran has resumed attacks on U.S. military bases in the Middle East, the U.S. military has also launched airstrikes targeting Iranian proxy forces inside Iraq.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. military operations in Iran, announced on the 28th (local time) that Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles toward U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

CENTCOM stated on X (formerly Twitter) that "at 5:45 p.m. today, Eastern Time, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units launched multiple ballistic missiles in a surprise attack from Iran targeting U.S. military bases in the Middle East."

It added, "All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted," and "U.S. forces remain vigilant and maintain a high level of readiness."

While CENTCOM did not specify which country in the Middle East hosted the targeted U.S. base, Barak Ravid, a journalist for the U.S. internet media outlet Axios, reported in a social media post that a base in Jordan was the target.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also stated in a release that "in response to aggressive U.S. actions, we struck a U.S. Air Force base and a central command post stationed in Jordan with several ballistic missiles."

However, it did not specify what the U.S. "aggressive actions" were.

In a statement on the morning of the 29th, the Revolutionary Guard also claimed to have struck three oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing them to halt navigation.

Iran's latest attack appears to deal a blow to the five-day lull in armed hostilities.

The U.S. military had continued airstrikes against Iran for 13 consecutive days before halting them on the 24th, after which Iran also suspended its retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Amid the paused armed hostilities, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed that dialogue with Iran is underway and that the likelihood of reaching a deal is high, while also threatening to launch even stronger airstrikes against Iran if negotiations fail.

The reason behind the Iranian military's targeting of U.S. bases remains unknown.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) pointed out that Iran's latest attack shows a shift in strategy from striking U.S. forces primarily in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes targeting its own territory.

The WSJ analyzed that "through unannounced missile attacks, Iran has shown its willingness to fight the United States on its own terms to force President Trump's hand."

Although the U.S. military has not yet launched airstrikes to retaliate against Iran's ballistic missile attack, it struck Iranian proxy forces in Iraq alongside Saudi Arabia.

In another X post, CENTCOM stated, "In coordination with Saudi forces, we conducted precision strikes against Iran-affiliated terrorists."

It explained, "As a strong countermeasure against more than 30 drone attacks directed by the IRGC over the past 72 hours, U.S. and Saudi fighter jets struck multiple terrorist logistical and weapons depots stretching across eastern Iraq."

Saudi Arabia, which had previously refrained from public military actions, unusually formalized its participation in the U.S. military's attack.

In a statement on the 29th, the Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that it had conducted "limited and targeted strikes" alongside the United States against pro-Iranian militant groups in Iraq linked to attacks on its own oil facilities.

It added, "While we do not seek escalation, we will respond to any provocations against Saudi Arabia."

This marks the first time directly announced by Saudi Arabia that it has struck Iranian proxy forces inside Iraq since the outbreak of the war in February.

The chronological sequence between the timing of Iran's ballistic missile strikes targeting U.S. bases and the precision strikes by U.S. and Saudi forces against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq has not been definitively confirmed.

However, based on current circumstances, some observations suggest that Iran's new ballistic missile attacks may be retaliation for the Iranian proxy targets hit by U.S. and Saudi forces.

CENTCOM warned, "Between February and April of this year, Iran-linked terrorist militias in Iraq attempted over 600 attacks targeting U.S. citizens and facilities," adding that "the IRGC and its terrorist proxies must halt these attacks if they wish to avoid further U.S. responses."

However, a U.S. official cited by the Associated Press stated that Iran launched its ballistic missile attacks before U.S. and Saudi forces struck Iraq, and that the two attacks are unrelated.
 
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