What Mattered This Week

JORDAN — The Israel Defense Forces stated on July 19 that launches from Iran toward the city of Aqaba in Jordan, near the territory of the State of Israel, were identified.

The statement noted that there may be spills into Israeli territory as a result of the firing and that alerts may be activated in the south of the country.

JORDAN — On Sunday the U.S. Embassy Amman cited a specific and credible threat that prompted Jordanian authorities to evacuate the international airport and seaport in Aqaba, and strongly advised all Americans to refrain from travel to either facility.

It continues to advise Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan. The same day Jordan’s Minister of Government Communication and official government spokesperson Mohammad Al Momani announced that relevant authorities issued no evacuation decisions for Aqaba Airport or the seaport, that both facilities operate normally, and that no potential threats registered with competent Jordanian authorities in recent hours.

KUWAIT — On Sunday the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces stated that Kuwaiti air defenses are currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats following what it described as Iranian aggression.

The statement confirmed that any explosions heard result from interceptions of the incoming targets and directed the public to follow safety and security instructions from competent authorities.

U.S strikes, CENTCOM forces hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites.

MIDDLE EAST — The U.S. Department of State issued a Worldwide Caution on July 18 advising Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution due to heightened tensions.

The alert states that the security environment remains complex with potential for unforeseen escalation, that U.S. diplomatic facilities including those outside the Middle East have been targeted, and that groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. forces launched a new round of airstrikes against Iran beginning at 6 p.m. ET on July 18. The action followed the deaths of two U.S. service members in Jordan the previous day and occurs alongside continued naval blockade enforcement in the region.

CENTCOM reported that on July 17 two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action and one remains missing as U.S. and partner forces responded to Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.

CENTCOM: “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) ended an evening wave of strikes against Iran at 9 p.m. ET on July 15.

U.S. forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM used precision munitions to hit targets in multiple locations including Bandar Abbas.

ARABIAN GULF — On July 15, CENTCOM forces disabled a Curacao-flagged oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf after it ignored multiple warnings while attempting to transit toward an Iranian port in violation of a naval blockade reimposed the previous day.

A short while later, U.S. forces launched a second wave of strikes targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command: “TAMPA, Fla. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed an additional round of strikes against Iran at 10 p.m. ET, July 14, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas.

U.S. fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems during the seven-hour wave to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) via Iranian state-run media: "IRGC has announced that the second wave of Operation Nasr-2 struck multiple weapons storage facilities, a satellite communications hub, and US military housing in Bahrain."

MIDDLE EAST — During the five hour mission, U.S. forces struck military targets across Iran, including within Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — Two Iranian cruise missiles struck the United Arab Emirates national tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah on July 13 while the vessels transited the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz inside Omani territorial waters.

The attack killed one Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa and injured eight other crew members, four of them seriously. The injured included six Indian nationals and two Ukrainian nationals.

KUWAIT AND STRAIT OF HORMUZ — CENTCOM announced it would resume the naval blockade of Iranian ports on July 14 at 8 p.m. UTC (11 p.m. local Kuwait time) at the direction of the Commander in Chief.

On July 14, CENTCOM began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran. The command stated that these strikes will continue imposing costs on Iranian forces and reduce their capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.