Following his meeting at the White House with President Donald J. Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the talks "went well."

Zelenskyy also offered his condolences on the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, describing him as a "true friend of Ukraine."

According to Zelenskyy, the two leaders discussed Ukraine's defense priorities, including licensing the production of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles, along with other initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

Video has been posted to Telegram purporting to show a fire at the U.S. base near Erbil, Iraq following earlier reports of explosions. There has been a lot of U.S. Air Force C-17 activity into and out of Erbil for the last few days.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center has issued an advisory after receiving a report that a commercial tanker heard an explosion while transiting the southern Red Sea. UKMTO said the vessel and its crew are safe, and an investigation is underway.

The advisory comes hours after the Houthis claimed they fired multiple missiles at a Saudi vessel they alleged was attempting to violate the group's self-declared blockade on Saudi shipping through the Bab al Mandeb Strait, forcing it to turn back.

The claim from the Houthis has not been verified, and this notice from the UKMTO does not explicitly link the two events.

Reports of air defense activity over Jordan this evening have emerged following reports of missile launches from Iran.

This video, purportedly filmed in Jordan, appears to show a Patriot air defense system intercepting an inbound aerial threat. No official confirmation of launches or interceptions have been published yet.

Axios' @BarakRavid reports that Iran has launched missiles towards a U.S. base in Jordan, according to a senior American official.

U.S. Central Command has announced that at 5:45 p.m. ET today, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in an attempted surprise attack, adding that all missiles were intercepted.

U.S. Central Command has announced that U.S. and Saudi forces conducted strikes against multiple sites linked to Iranian backed terrorists across eastern Iraq tonight in response to more than 30 IRGC directed aerial drone attacks over the last 72 hours.

Reuters reports that Iran is expected to receive its first shipment of 300–400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defense systems (MANPADS) within weeks, marking one of Tehran's largest known efforts to rebuild its short-range air defenses since the war with the U.S. and Israel began.

According to Reuters, the reported $60–70 million deal includes QW-12 and FN-16 infrared-guided missiles designed to defend against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and drones. Their mobility makes them more difficult to target than fixed air defense sites that have been repeatedly struck during the conflict.

China's Foreign Ministry denied the report, calling it "completely groundless," while Pakistan rejected claims it would facilitate deliveries through its territory. The report also comes just days after President Trump said he does not believe China is providing military assistance to Iran. If confirmed, however, the procurement would represent a significant expansion of Iran's short-range air defense capabilities and could indicate growing defense cooperation between Tehran and Beijing despite Beijing's public denials.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/iran-get-chinese-shoulder-launched-missile-systems-weeks-sources-say-2026-07-29/

The War Horse reports that newly obtained Department of War records provide the most detailed public accounting to date of U.S. casualties during the opening phase of the Iran war, revealing 400+ casualty incidents between Feb. 28 and April 8, including at least 17 life-threatening injuries. The data shows head trauma was the single most common injury, with at least 170 cases, raising concerns that traumatic brain injury (TBI) could become the conflict's defining wound.

The War Horse also reports several previously undisclosed mass casualty events, including 70 casualties on March 18 and 29 casualties on March 3, that were never publicly detailed by U.S. Central Command. Two generals-Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes and Maj. Gen. Brad Hinson-were among those who sustained head injuries during the March 1 drone strike on Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

The reporting also aligns with TheIntelFrog's documentation of medical evacuation flights throughout Operation Epic Fury in near real time, repeatedly noting that the tempo of those flights suggested the number of U.S. casualties was rising beyond the figures publicly acknowledged by the Department of War. These newly released records provide independent evidence consistent with that assessment.

Source: https://thewarhorse.org/records-troops-wounded-iran-war/

The U.S. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence in a 51–47 party-line vote, making him the next leader of the U.S. intelligence community.

Clayton assumes the role as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence undergoes major restructuring, with Acting DNI Bill Pulte announcing another round of staff reductions Tuesday as the administration continues to shrink the agency.

Reuters reports U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper has warned U.S. troops that cellphone videos and social media posts are giving Iran real-time battle damage assessments, potentially helping it plan follow on strikes against American forces.

According to Reuters, some troops in Jordan have been told their phones could soon be confiscated as the military considers tighter operational security measures following recent attacks.

Cooper wrote that footage posted by service members can reveal whether Iranian missiles hit their targets, warning that publicly shared images and reporting can provide Tehran with intelligence "free of charge."

Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-commander-warns-troops-their-videos-help-iran-sources-say-2026-07-29/