President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, vowing to "beat the f****** s*** out of" the nation in response to ballistic missiles launched at U.S. forces stationed in Jordan. The attack, described by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) as an "attempted surprise attack," occurred on Monday.
CENTCOM confirmed that all Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia also conducted strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on Sunday, which CENTCOM stated was retaliation for a series of drone strikes, not directly linked to the Jordan missile incident.
This exchange follows a multi-day lull in fighting between Iran and the U.S., the first pause in nearly two weeks. The conflict had seen 13 consecutive days of fighting prior to this lull, following the breakdown of a memorandum of understanding signed in June. The ongoing conflict has involved frequent pauses as the U.S. seeks to encourage Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has frequently voiced intentions of major escalation against Tehran. Last Thursday, he indicated consideration of an attack on Iran that would be "bigger than ever before." Earlier in the week, he revisited the possibility of striking an Iranian nuclear facility, referred to as Pickaxe Mountain, while speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite some public disagreements, both leaders described their meeting on Tuesday as productive. Netanyahu called it "excellent," and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized it as "positive and productive."
Since the conflict began in February, 18 U.S. troops have been killed and over 600 have been wounded.