The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Thursday, July 30th, 2026, that it launched a "heavy wave of strikes against Iran" in response to Iranian missile attacks on US forces a day earlier. The strikes targeted dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, including military command centers, missile and drone sites, coastal surveillance and defense locations, and maritime capabilities.

The attacks were concentrated in Iran's southern provinces, particularly along the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, mirroring a recent 13-day US campaign, according to Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar reporting from Tehran. Key locations hit include the strategic Qeshm Island, where Iranian officials reported a residential building was struck, trapping three people under rubble and injuring two others who were taken to hospital. The explosions were audible as far as Bandar Abbas, a port city in Hormozgan province, initially sparking reports that the port itself was targeted. The island experienced power outages, with authorities working to restore electricity and clear debris.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported additional US strikes on the outskirts of Kazerun city in Fars province and two loud explosions on Kish Island in the Gulf.

In a related development, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions on two Iranian firms accused of supporting an IRGC-backed scheme that compels commercial vessels to purchase insurance to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

These strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran "very hard" following Iran's targeting of a US base in Jordan.

Sources