US Completes Retaliatory Airstrikes on Iran, Hitting Dozens of IRGC Sites

The US military carried out large-scale strikes on dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, facilities inside Iran in response to what it described as an attempted Iranian ballistic missile attack on American forces stationed in the Middle East.

US Central Command said on July 29 it had successfully completed the airstrikes on Iran at 10 p.m. Eastern time. The operation was launched in retaliation for Iran's attempted ballistic missile attack a day earlier targeting US forces in the region.

The strikes hit dozens of IRGC-linked sites in Iran, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense installations, and facilities related to maritime military capabilities.

Central Command said the airstrikes were intended to further reduce threats posed by Iran and Iran-backed forces to US troops, commercial shipping and nearby Gulf states.

The IRGC launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran on July 28 at US forces deployed in the Middle East. Central Command called it an attempted surprise attack and said all of the missiles were intercepted.

More than 50,000 US troops are currently deployed across the Middle East. They remain on high alert and are prepared to respond to additional threats, Central Command added.