U.S. Military Ends Brief Ceasefire and Resumes Strikes Against Iran

On July 29, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Huang Qiang and Xu Jianmei) that the U.S. Central Command announced on social media that the U.S. military began airstrikes against Iran at 8 PM Eastern Time on the 29th, thus ending a brief ceasefire that had started on the 24th.

The report stated that the airstrikes were a response to Iran's attempt the previous day to attack U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East.

U.S. President Trump stated to the media at the White House on the afternoon of the 29th that there would be retaliation against Iran for the attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East, threatening to "hit Iran hard," "because now it's our turn to strike them."

The U.S. Central Command reported on the 28th that Iran had launched a missile attack against U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East that day, and the U.S. military intercepted all incoming missiles. Previously, the U.S. military had suspended airstrikes against Iran that had been ongoing for 13 days since the 24th, and no new attacks had been launched in the following days.

The U.S. Central Command also stated that the U.S. military continues to strictly enforce a maritime blockade against Iran. As of the 29th, the U.S. military had forced 20 commercial vessels to change their routes, rendered 2 vessels incapable of navigation, and conducted boarding inspections on 2 vessels.