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/

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that as of today CENTCOM has redirected 20 commercial vessels while disabling 2 and boarding 2 more to ensure compliance with the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The War Zone reports Boeing has taken another $280 million loss on the VC-25B Air Force One program, pushing the company's total losses above $3 billion under its fixed price contract with the U.S. Air Force. Boeing says the additional investment is intended to keep the program on track for the first aircraft delivery in 2028, roughly four years later than originally planned.

The report also follows last week's announcement that the interim VC-25B "Bridge" aircraft, converted by L3Harris from a donated Qatari 747-8, will be removed from service for about a month to receive additional upgrades after concerns emerged about its defensive and mission capabilities. The War Zone has previously reported that the Bridge aircraft lacks some capabilities planned for the production VC-25Bs, while President Trump recently said its capabilities would be "maxed out."

Separately, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in June that the government's estimated acquisition cost has increased from $6.263 billion to $6.608 billion, underscoring the continued schedule delays, technical challenges, and rising costs surrounding the long-running replacement of the Air Force's aging VC-25A fleet.

Source: https://www.twz.com/air/boeing-has-now-eaten-3b-in-air-force-one-cost-overruns

According to a new Center For Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) analysis, the U.S. now has roughly 827 Patriot and 278 Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) interceptors remaining, down from an estimated 2,330 and 452, respectively.

Analysts warn replenishing these high-end missile inventories could take years, despite expanded production efforts, leaving limited capacity for other major contingencies if demand remains high.

CNN reports Pentagon sources say those estimates are close to internal figures.

Source: https://www.csis.org/analysis/renewed-iran-war-would-test-diminished-interceptor-inventories

According to Axios' Barak Ravid, a senior U.S. official has confirmed that the U.S. Army is attacking Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reports that President Donald J. Trump is weighing whether to resume major combat operations against Iran following Tuesday's missile attack on U.S. forces, with CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper presenting an option for 10–14 days of intensive airstrikes aimed at crippling Iran's remaining missile capabilities.

According to the Journal, Cooper argues a larger offensive would reduce Iran's ability to launch future attacks and lessen the long-term demand for U.S. air defense interceptors. By contrast, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has warned that dwindling interceptor stockpiles increase the risks of a renewed campaign, though they would not prevent one.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/the-u-s-commander-with-a-two-week-plan-to-escalate-strikes-in-iran-0ce32cb2?mod=hp_lead_pos1

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that U.S. forces began conducting strikes against Iran in response to yesterday's attempted ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Jordan.

With the United States resuming strikes against Iran, chances of Iranian military action against one or more of the Gulf States over the coming week have significantly risen on Polymarket, as traders predict there is a 26% chance that Iran launches strikes against one of the countries on July 31.

Air raid sirens currently sounding in Lublin, Eastern Poland, amid a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack against cities in Western Ukraine.

Sirens are currently sounding in multiple cities across Eastern Poland, following possible reports of Russian cruise missiles having crossed into Polish Airspace.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that U.S. forces conducted a heavy wave of strikes against dozens of IRGC targets across Iran at approximately 10 p.m. ET, describing the operation as a response to Iran's attempted ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Jordan yesterday.

According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities to further reduce threats to U.S. forces, commercial shipping, and regional partners.

What appears to have been a Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile flew nearly 100km into Poland during last night’s large-scale drone and missile attack against Ukraine, impacting a field and leaving a sizable crater near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia in Southeastern Poland.

CCTV cameras at a home in Southeastern Poland captured the moment a Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile struck a field last night near the Polish village of Tarnawa-Kolonia.