US Launches Fresh Strikes on Iran as Conflict Spreads to Jordan and Kuwait

By Ene Rebecca

July 31, 2026

The United States has launched a new wave of strikes against Iran after Iranian forces attacked US troops in Jordan, with the conflict subsequently spilling into Jordan and Kuwait, according to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and reports from Al Jazeera.

CENTCOM said its forces had completed what it described as a “heavy wave” of strikes against Iran, targeting dozens of facilities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US military said the targets included military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defence sites, and maritime capabilities.

The strikes followed an Iranian ballistic missile attack on US forces stationed in Jordan. Iranian state-linked media reported casualties from the subsequent US strikes, while the IRGC said three of its personnel were killed. Al Jazeera also reported that three civilians were killed, including a couple and their two-year-old child, after a residential building on Iran’s Qeshm Island was struck.

Following the US strikes, Jordan and Kuwait reported Iranian attacks on their territories on Thursday. Jordan said it intercepted missiles, while Kuwait reported that one person was killed. Al Jazeera further reported that a building belonging to a Chinese company in Kuwait was targeted, killing one worker.

The escalation comes after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be hit “very hard” following the attack on American forces in Jordan. The latest US operation marks a resumption of heavy American attacks on Iranian military capabilities after a five-night pause.

The developments have raised concerns over the widening geographical scope of the conflict, with attacks now affecting countries hosting US military personnel and other strategic interests in the Gulf region. The latest escalation also comes amid continuing concerns over security and commercial activity around key regional waterways.

The United States has maintained that its strikes are aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities, while Iran has continued to retaliate against US interests in the region. The latest exchanges indicate that the confrontation is increasingly extending beyond direct US-Iranian targets.