US Says It Intercepted Iranian Missile Attack on Regional Forces
WASHINGTON-The US military said on Tuesday it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran in what it described as a surprise attack targeting American forces in the Middle East, marking an end to several days of relative calm between the two adversaries.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran at approximately 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time. CENTCOM said all of the missiles were successfully intercepted but did not identify the locations that were targeted or provide further operational details.
According to the US military, no Iranian missile reached its intended target. The statement did not report any casualties or damage resulting from the attack.
The reported launch ended a brief pause in hostilities that had followed nearly two weeks of nightly military exchanges between Washington and Tehran. During that period, the United States carried out repeated strikes on targets in Iran, while Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks aimed at US allies across the Gulf region.
The latest exchange comes after a mid-July escalation in fighting that followed Iranian attacks on several commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes for energy shipments.
The temporary lull over the weekend had contributed to a decline in global oil prices as markets responded to reduced military activity and growing expectations that diplomatic efforts could ease tensions. US President Donald Trump had said there was a “good chance” negotiations aimed at ending the conflict would make progress.
Tuesday’s missile launch, however, underscored the fragility of that pause and signalled that the conflict remains capable of reigniting despite indications of possible diplomatic engagement.
Iranian authorities had not issued an immediate response to the US military’s statement in the source material, and no independent confirmation of the incident was available.
