US Central Command and Saudi Arabian Forces Conduct Strikes Against Iran-Backed Forces in Iraq in Response to ‘Surprise’ Attack on US Base

US Central Command on Tuesday evening announced joint US-Saudi strikes against Iran-backed forces in Iraq in response to a surprise attack on a US base.

Full statement from CENTCOM:

U.S. Central Command and the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes in Iraq, July 28, against Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.

U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours.

The unwarranted attacks against U.S. forces were not successful.

From February through April 2026, there were more than 600 attempted attacks on U.S. citizens and facilities by Iran-aligned terrorist militias in Iraq.

The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response.

https://t.co/4gooax78lx

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 29, 2026

Earlier Tuesday, Iran launched a missile strike on US forces in the Middle East on Tuesday in what US Central Command described as a “attempted surprise attack.”

All of the missiles were intercepted, CENTCOM says.

This comes after President Trump called off the nearly two-week-long bombing campaign against Iran to continue negotiations on Friday.

“At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness,” US Central Command announced in a statement.

18 US service members have been killed in action in the Middle East since the beginning of the war against Iran.

President Trump last Wednesday attended the dignified transfer of the four American patriots killed in action in the Middle East by Iranian drones.