The United States has resumed airstrikes inside Iran in retaliation for Tehran's attempted ballistic missile attack on American forces stationed in the Middle East. The move came after President Donald Trump vowed a forceful response, stating the U.S. would hit Iran "very hard."
U.S. Central Command confirmed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran targeting U.S. forces in the region. All missiles were intercepted, and no casualties or damage were immediately reported. This renewed exchange marked the first U.S. attacks inside Iran since President Trump paused a bombing campaign to allow for diplomatic efforts.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described Iran's surprise attack as a strategic shift, indicating a more risk-tolerant and confident Tehran. "This is the Islamic Republic matching its deeds with its words," Taleblu told Fox News Digital. "That means a more risk-tolerant, more confident, perhaps less capable, but more dangerous Iran in the Middle East."
Taleblu cautioned that successful interceptions alone may not restore deterrence, as Iran has previously demonstrated an ability to absorb U.S. responses and then attempt to dictate the end of the conflict. He emphasized that every Iranian missile attack, regardless of success, should be treated as significant, framing it as a political rather than purely technological problem.
The attack occurred amidst a widening conflict in the region. Iran also reportedly targeted commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, the United States and Saudi Arabia jointly struck Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq following drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, marking the first public acknowledgment of Riyadh's participation in strikes alongside Washington.
This escalation follows a recent Iranian attack on U.S. forces in Jordan earlier in July, which resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members and wounded several others. While the U.S. subsequently struck Iranian targets, Taleblu argued that Tehran continues to believe it can withstand retaliation, strike back, and control the pace of engagements. He warned that allowing Iran to claim it had "closed the round" would reinforce this perception.
Trump reiterated his commitment to a strong response, telling Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst that the United States would be "hitting them hard" and that Iran was "going to get a beating."