Iran launches surprise ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East

Zolfaghar and Qadr missiles alongside a metal model of a mini submarine are displayed at Azadi Square as the mutual attacks between Iran and the US, sparked by the parallel routes established in the Strait of Hormuz, intensify day by day in Tehran, Iran on July 24, 2026. Fatemeh Bahrami | Anadolu | Getty ImagesIran late Tuesday stateside targeted U.S. forces in the Middle East with several ballistic missiles, the U.S. Central Command said, raising tensions in the Middle East that had seen hostilities put on brief pause. Centcom in a post on X said that attack originated from Iran, but all missiles were intercepted. "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."While the U.S. military command did not specify where the attacks were aimed at, Axios reported the attack was directed at a U.S. base in Jordan, citing U.S. officials. The strike comes after a two-day pause in a hostilities between Washington and Tehran that had sent oil prices lower. U.S. crude futures surged over 4% to $82.5 per barrel, following the latest attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump had set aside p...