Iran Strikes US Base in Jordan, US and Saudi Arabia Bomb Iraq: Is the War Spreading?

On July 29, Iran confirmed it had launched multiple ballistic missiles targeting US military facilities in Jordan. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the action was retaliation for "acts of aggression" by the US military. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had intercepted a "surprise attack" on its forces in the Middle East.

The same day, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense announced it had coordinated with CENTCOM to conduct strikes against Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq, following drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. CENTCOM confirmed the airstrikes targeted "Iran-linked groups" that, according to them, had attacked US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure on IRGC orders.

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella organization for multiple armed groups, including pro-Iran factions, said the US-Saudi airstrikes had killed at least 20 fighters and wounded 32 others across seven provinces, including Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala, and Diyala. The PMF warned the casualty toll could rise after on-site assessments. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi convened an emergency National Security Council meeting following the incident.

It remains unclear whether Iran's attack on Jordan occurred before or after the US-Saudi airstrikes on Iraq. Statements from CENTCOM did not clarify the chronological order of the two events.

Why the US and Saudi Arabia Bombed Iraq

The US and Saudi Arabia justified their military action in Iraq by accusing Iran of being behind the drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, allegedly originating from Iraqi territory. According to the accusations, Iran-aligned groups in Iraq had carried out "30 drone attacks directed by the IRGC" within 72 hours.

An unnamed Iranian defense official, speaking via state broadcaster IRIB, warned that blaming Tehran for these attacks was a "serious mistake." Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq, a pro-Iran armed group, denied involvement in the strikes on Saudi Arabia, calling the accusation "fabricated" and warning that "any foolish action by Saudi Arabia will face a strong response." The Iraqi prime minister was expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on July 30 to discuss the situation.

Why Iran Attacked Jordan

Iran's attacks on Jordan are part of a campaign targeting US military facilities and infrastructure in Gulf states, which has been ongoing since the US-Israel conflict with Iran erupted on February 28. Jordan currently hosts approximately 4,000 US troops, according to a 2026 Congressional Research Service report. Bases such as Muwaffaq Salti, King Faisal, and Tower 22 in northeastern Jordan host US forces near the borders with Syria and Iraq.

Is the War Spreading?

Amid fears of escalating conflict, many Middle Eastern and international countries are working to de-escalate the situation. The conflict has already spread to the Red Sea, where Iran-aligned Houthi forces have declared a blockade and targeted Saudi-flagged ships, and to the Caspian Sea, where Ukraine claims to have struck a military cargo vessel linked to Iran. Experts worry the war is overlapping with other conflicts, including in Ukraine, and risks drawing Saudi Arabia and other regional powers into the vortex.

Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, expressed concern and called on all parties to "abide by their commitments" under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Iran and the US last month, which had paved the way for 60 days of negotiations but was shattered by the clashes. Pakistan, which had previously mediated, also condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held phone calls with his counterparts in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, emphasizing "the need to maintain de-escalation efforts" and protect "freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb." The ministers condemned attacks from Iran and "its affiliated armed groups in Iraq and Yemen," and called for enhanced coordination through the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy, said she discussed the Gulf situation as well as Iran's support for Russia in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Kallas wrote on X: "In the Gulf, a lull in fighting could buy time for mediators to find a diplomatic path and prevent a full-scale war from returning."