Trump vows to hit Iran hard after fresh attack on US bases

President Donald Trump has vowed to sharply escalate military action against Iran after Tehran launched fresh attacks on US military bases in the Middle East. He made the statement in an interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst on July 29.

According to Yingst, Trump pledged to “hit them terribly” and insisted, “We are going to hit them very hard.”

The remarks came just one day after Iran claimed an attack on US forces at a military base in Jordan, the latest strike in a five-month-long conflict between the two countries.

On July 28, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had targeted an air base and a command center of US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Jordan. The IRGC warned of further attacks, stating that “the resistance will continue as long as threats and illegal actions by US forces against Iranian interests persist.”

The US side, CENTCOM described the incident as “a surprise attack on US forces in the Middle East.” All missiles were intercepted, and “US forces remain in a high state of combat readiness.”

The new attacks have heightened tensions following the deaths of three US soldiers at an air base in Jordan on July 17. Analysts say these casualties demonstrate Iran’s ability to inflict lethal damage on military facilities housing US troops, as US officials warn that supplies of air-defense interceptor missiles are running low.

Despite the US military’s overwhelming superiority, critics caution that Iran is still capable of waging a prolonged asymmetric war. At least 18 US soldiers have been killed since the war erupted in February.

The latest attacks were launched just hours after President Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 28. Netanyahu is widely seen as having influenced Trump toward a more aggressive posture toward Iran.

Since jointly launching the war against Iran on February 28, the US and Israel have disagreed over whether and how to continue the conflict. Israel advocates pressing on with the war to topple the Iranian regime and opposes any deal that would allow Iran to retain its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has repeatedly sought cease-fires that could be framed as strategic victories. Trump himself has oscillated between calls for diplomacy and threats of escalation throughout the conflict.

In April, he made the shocking statement that “an entire civilization will die tonight,” only to announce a temporary truce hours later. More recently, Trump has floated the idea of seizing Kharg Island – Iran’s main oil port – as well as threatening to strike nuclear sites and civilian infrastructure, moves that international law experts and human rights groups say would constitute war crimes.

Polls show limited American public support for the war. Even members of Trump’s MAGA movement are questioning whether the benefits justify the costs, including higher fuel prices resulting from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Regarding the White House meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu called it a “wonderful” discussion marked by “mutual cooperation, support, and a shared understanding of the goal of ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.” The White House described the meeting as “positive and productive.”