US and Iran Trade Missile Strikes as War Enters Sixth Month
The United States and Iran exchanged missile barrages on Thursday, with the U.S. military completing what it described as a “heavy wave of strikes against Iran” and Tehran retaliating against American allies in the region. The escalation has dimmed hopes for a quick resolution to a conflict now entering its sixth month.
According to AP News, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck dozens of targets belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities. The strikes came in response to an earlier Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan.
Regional Retaliation
Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at Jordan, where air defenses intercepted five missiles, and striking a Chinese firm’s building in northern Kuwait, killing one worker. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that three civilians—a couple and their two-year-old child—were killed when their residential building was struck on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Three IRGC personnel were also killed in the attacks.
Al Jazeera reported that bombings were carried out in the southwestern cities of Ahvaz, Abadan, and Shadegan in Khuzestan province, as well as Bushehr province and areas in Fars province. Power outages were reported in Ahvaz as a result of the strikes.
A Widening Conflict
The war, which began on February 28, 2026, with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, has expanded far beyond its initial scope. What President Donald Trump predicted would last “four to five weeks” has now stretched into its sixth month, with 18 U.S. service members killed since the conflict began.
The regional dimensions of the war have grown significantly. Saudi Arabia joined U.S. strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq on July 29, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in Washington, signaling the kingdom’s deepening involvement.
The conflict has also spread to Egypt, where drone strikes ignited fires on two natural gas vessels at the Egyptian port of Damietta. Egypt’s prime minister’s office confirmed the fires were caused by a drone. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen denied responsibility for the attack.
Strait of Hormuz: The Global Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz remains the strategic centerpiece of the conflict. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei declared that the waterway “is closed due to American actions,” while shipping traffic through the strait has plummeted from 82 ships during the week of July 13-19 to just 39 from July 20-26, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
The disruption has had severe economic consequences. Oil prices have topped $100 per barrel, and U.S. gas prices have risen above $4 per gallon, hitting consumers directly. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new sanctions on two Iranian firms, stating that “the United States will not allow Iran to hold global commerce hostage.”
Domestic Pressure Mounts
The prolonged conflict has become increasingly unpopular at home. A new AP-NORC poll conducted July 23-27 reveals that about two-thirds of U.S. adults say the war has not been worthwhile—including 37% of Republicans, a significant shift within the president’s own party.
Trump’s approval rating on Iran has dropped to 28%, down from 34% in June. Among Republicans, approval fell from 71% to 61%. Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults want continued military action, while roughly 3 in 10 favor a pause and renewed ceasefire negotiations. Some 72% of Americans say preventing gas price increases is extremely or very important, while 71% say the same about negotiating a permanent ceasefire.
What’s Next
Analysts suggest the U.S. faces two potential paths forward. Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East analyst at RANE Network, told Al Jazeera that the U.S. could either continue focusing on targets related to Iran’s blockade of Hormuz or escalate toward “the bridges and power plant strategy that President Trump has repeatedly threatened.”
Pakistan and Oman continue mediation efforts, with Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirming that “talks are ongoing to normalize the situation, particularly the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.” However, with both sides resuming strikes after a brief pause, the window for diplomacy appears to be narrowing. Former Pentagon official David Des Roches characterized the latest U.S. strikes as “not a very overwhelming attack,” suggesting the administration may still be trying to keep diplomatic channels open while maintaining military pressure.
The coming days will be critical. With U.S. domestic opinion turning against the war, the Strait of Hormuz crippling global energy markets, and the conflict spreading to new countries, the pressure for a diplomatic solution grows by the day. Whether the latest escalation is a prelude to a broader campaign or a final push toward negotiations remains the defining question of the war.