Trump and Jordan Confirm Interception of Five Iranian Missiles

US President Donald Trump issued a harsh threat against Iran on Wednesday (29/7) local time, after American officials confirmed that Tehran launched a ballistic missile attack on US military assets in the Middle East. Although the attack was successfully intercepted, the escalation marks the end of a pause in hostilities that Washington had been attempting to maintain. “We will hit them very hard,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “They have already apologised, but you know, we have to teach them a little lesson.” Trump detailed that Iran launched five ballistic missiles with speeds reaching 8,600 miles per hour. According to him, all the missiles were shot down before reaching their targets. On the other hand, Jordan also confirmed that their air defences intercepted five Iranian missiles aimed at US bases in the region. Tensions peaked after US and Saudi Arabian forces launched a joint overnight airstrike targeting Iranian-backed armed groups in Eastern Iraq. This move is considered a significant turning point as it marks Riyadh’s direct involvement in the open conflict between Washington and Tehran. US Central Command (Centcom) stated the strikes targeted logistics and weapons sites in response to more than 30 drone attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in recent days. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the action was taken after pro-Iran militias targeted the kingdom’s oil facilities. Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), assessed Saudi Arabia’s role as a major step. “They lost patience and took a step they have long avoided, which is directly attacking another Arab organisation,” Cancian said. He added this could signal that Saudi Arabia will allow the US to use their military bases for direct operations against Iran or in the Strait of Hormuz. The global market reaction to the escalation was sharply negative. Brent crude oil prices surged more than 7 per cent to around US$87 per barrel, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average index plunged more than 800 points in Wednesday trading. Following the circulation of battle damage videos and photos on social media, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Centcom, issued an internal warning to more than 50,000 US troops in the Middle East to maintain operational security (OPSEC). Centcom spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins stressed that the protection of personnel is the top priority amid the uncertain situation. Although Trump had previously declared the war with Iran over last May following a ceasefire announcement, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise. With the Houthi blockade in the Red Sea and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the prospects for peace through diplomatic channels are now threatened with total failure.