⚠️ U.S. WEIGHS EXPANDED OPERATIONS AGAINST IRAN: Israel assesses that, unless circumstances change dramatically, President Donald Trump will order an expansion of U.S. military operations against Iran, according to Channel 13.
Fox News reported that the Trump administration presented President Trump with options for broader military operations. NBC News reported that Trump lost his temper during a security meeting, shouting and cursing out of frustration over the options presented and the lack of progress toward an agreement with Iran.
A senior political official told reporters in Washington: “The decision on Iran is in Trump's hands. Everything is on the table, from an agreement to a major strike. Iran understands that Israel will respond forcefully if it is attacked.”
The official added: “Mojtaba Khamenei is definitely alive. Iran currently possesses about 1,500 ballistic missiles.”
💥 U.S. STRIKES IRANIAN TARGETS: The U.S. military attacked dozens of targets across Iran overnight. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said three of its members were killed today in a U.S. missile strike in Zanjan Province in northern Iran.
An IRGC air-defense base and a Revolutionary Guard command center in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, were also targeted.
In an unconfirmed message addressed to the Jordanian people, the IRGC claimed: “As our contribution to helping you liberate the Islamic lands in Jordan from the humiliation of American occupation, we have targeted the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, completely destroying 3 US F-35 aircraft”.
CENTCOM rejected the claim: “No U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent attempted Iranian attacks. All missiles and drones were intercepted or failed to reach targeted areas”.
⚓ U.S. ENFORCES MARITIME BLOCKADE: A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft approached a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker for refueling while patrolling the Middle East. The P-8 is among the assets monitoring regional waters during the U.S. blockade against Iran.
As of July 30, CENTCOM forces had redirected 24 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two to ensure compliance.
⚓ SAUDI ARABIA ANNOUNCES RED SEA COALITION: The Saudi Defense Ministry officially announced the formation of an international coalition to counter Ansarallah, the Houthis, in the Red Sea.
“A meeting in Riyadh saw broad participation from chiefs of staff and their representatives from 43 countries. 14 countries have confirmed their participation in the maritime coalition, while others are in the process of completing their national approval procedures to join,” the ministry said.
Countries identified as confirmed participants include Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Maldives, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council government.
Yemeni sources cited by The Guardian believe Saudi Arabia is preparing a major military offensive against the Houthis by sea and possibly by land in central Yemen, aimed at breaking the chokehold on its oil exports through the southern Red Sea.
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