On July 29, 2026, U.S. Central Command said it conducted a wave of airstrikes against Iranian military installations in southern Iran, including sites along the Persian Gulf coast, in response to Iranian attacks on U.S. forces on July 28. The strikes targeted Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities, missile and drone sites, coastal surveillance and maritime capabilities, according to the announcement. Iran reported that the attacks killed three members of the IRGC Ground Forces Ansar ol Mahdi Provincial Unit in Zanjan Province and claimed to have destroyed two F‑35 fighter jets, statements that CENTCOM denied. Iran also carried out a drone attack on a U.S.-registered gas tanker at Damietta Port in northeastern Egypt on July 29, a incident that Egyptian authorities initially attributed to Iran. Additional Iranian actions included ballistic missile strikes on U.S. bases in Jordan, attacks on a Chinese‑owned building in Kuwait that killed one worker, and missile hits on facilities in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia announced on July 30 that it was convening a multinational maritime defense coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi and Iranian threats to the Bab al Mandeb Strait; representatives from 43 countries attended the meeting in Riyadh. The coalition, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, and several Gulf states, issued a joint statement expressing support, though the participation of the United States remains unclear. Iraqi militias discussed possible retaliation for recent U.S.–Saudi airstrikes on militia positions in Iraq, with some officials saying they could respond within 72 hours and threatening attacks on U.S. and Saudi targets. Iranian officials and media have used the heightened attacks to argue that U.S. military presence endangers regional stability and to pressure partner governments to limit U.S. basing rights. U.S. Treasury sanctions on July 29 and 30 targeted entities involved in Iran’s maritime and drone supply networks and six individuals and firms in China, India, Russia and Iran linked to drone procurement. The ongoing conflict continues to affect regional shipping, energy markets and military posture, with no definitive resolution reported.