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Iran war: US says Iranian missiles intercepted
Iran war: US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-backed Iraqi militias
Zac Crellin with AFP, AP, dpa, ReutersPublished 07/29/2026Published July 29, 2026last updated 07/29/2026last updated July 29, 2026The US military said it thwarted an "attempted surprise attack" by Iran that came after a days-long lull in fighting. Meanwhile, Israel's Netanyahu hailed an "excellent" meeting with Trump. Follow DW.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Huy1What you need to know
- US military says Iranian ballistic missiles intercepted
- The confrontation comes after a days-long lull in fighting
- US, Saudi Arabia announce striking Iranian-backed militias in Iraq
- Netanyahu hails his White House meeting with Trump despite tensions
Read below for the latest developments concerning the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Wednesday, July 29, 2026:
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Skip next section Venezuela protests after Araghchi's remarks07/29/2026July 29, 2026Venezuela protests after Araghchi's remarks
Venezuela has summoned Iran's ambassador in Caracas to protest what it described as "disparaging and inappropriate" remarks about the country's institutions and authorities.
The Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Ali Chegini was handed a formal note of protest on Tuesday. While Venezuelan diplomats did not specify what prompted the move, the complaint appears to relate to recent remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about negotiations with the United States.
"This is not Venezuela, where they take one person and everyone else gets scared and backs down," Araghchi said, apparently referring to the US capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the subsequent shift in relations between Caracas and Washington.
Venezuela demanded "an end to any reference or comparison that undermines the dignity, sovereignty, institutions or reputation of Venezuela," the ministry said on Telegram.
Venezuelans want elections — but when will they get them?
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Relations between Tehran and Caracas have been particularly close since the presidency of the late Hugo Chavez, with both governments united by their opposition to the United States.
Iran was one of the main allies of Nicolas Maduro's government, particularly during Venezuela's fuel shortages in 2020, when Caracas turned to Tehran for petrol.
Maduro is now being held in New York after his capture in Caracas on January 3. Under acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela and the US have restored diplomatic ties and continued to move closer in recent months.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HvAnSkip next section US, Saudi forces hit Iran-aligned targets in Iraq07/29/2026July 29, 2026US, Saudi forces hit Iran-aligned targets in Iraq
The US military says it has carried out precision strikes with Saudi forces against Iran-aligned militants in eastern Iraq.
US and Saudi fighter jets hit several weapons storage and logistics sites, US Central Command, or CENTCOM, said on X.
CENTCOM said the operation followed more than 30 drone attacks over the previous 72 hours. The US military accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of directing the strikes against US troops and Saudi energy infrastructure.
CENTCOM said the attacks on American forces failed.
Earlier, CENTCOM said it had thwarted an attempted Iranian "surprise attack" involving several ballistic missiles fired at US forces in the Middle East.
All the missiles were intercepted, the US military said. While CENTCOM did not identify their intended target, US news outlet Axios reported that they were heading towards a US military base in Jordan.
The attack came despitePresident Donald Trump's announcement that US strikes on Iran had been paused to give negotiations more time.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hv2RSkip next section IRGC fires missiles at US bases in Jordan07/29/2026July 29, 2026IRGC fires missiles at US bases in Jordan
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it fired several ballistic missiles toward a US air base and Central Command center in Jordan on Wednesday morning.
It said the attack was in retaliation for US actions against Iranian interests.
"As long as threats against the Islamic Republic continue and the unlawful and hostile actions of US forces against our interests persist, resistance will also continue," the IRGC told Iranian state media.
"Threats by US officials and unlawful interference against our interests must come to an end."
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hv1bSkip next section Iraq's PMF militia says US, Saudi strike 'killed, injured many'07/29/2026July 29, 2026Iraq's PMF militia says US, Saudi strike 'killed, injured many'
Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an Iran-aligned umbrella of militias, said the US and Saudi Arabia struck its facilities across Iraq on Wednesday.
The PMF said the strike targeted its headquarters in Basra, killing and injuring a number of people it did not specify.
The PMF said the strikes were a "highly dangerous escalation" and violated Iraq's sovereignty.
The US has blamed Iran-backed militias in Iraq for recent strikes on American troops in the region and oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hv1RSkip next section Saudi Arabia says strikes on Iraqi militants in retaliation for earlier strikesPublished 07/29/2026Published July 29, 2026last updated 07/29/2026last updated July 29, 2026Saudi Arabia says strikes on Iraqi militants in retaliation for earlier strikes
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday confirmed it took part in US strikes on Iran-backed Iraqi militants, saying they came in response to drone strikes by Iraqi militants that attempted to target oil facilities in Sharqiya and Riyadh.
The Saudi Defense Ministry stressed in a statement on X its "right to self defense."
"The kingdom stresses it does not seek escalation but it will respond to any aggression it faces," the statement read.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HuyTSkip next section US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-backed militants in Iraq07/29/2026July 29, 2026US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-backed militants in Iraq
The US military said it conducted alongside Saudi Arabia a series of strikes on Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday.
The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeting Iraqi militias were in retaliation for strikes on US troops in the region and Saudi energy infrastructure by "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq.
"US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours," the US military's Central Command said.
CENTCOM said the latest strikes against Saudi Arabia, which ended a days-long lull in fighting, were directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
"The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response," it said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HuyVSkip next section READ: As US-Iran war rages, who's risking the Strait of Hormuz?07/29/2026July 29, 2026READ: As US-Iran war rages, who's risking the Strait of Hormuz?
Gianna-Carina Grün | Farah BahgatThe Strait of Hormuz has become one of the world's most dangerous waterways since March, when Iran began attacking shipping vessels as a pressure tactic in its ceasefire talks with the United States.
Still, though a significant proportion of the global oil trade bottlenecks at the strait, shipping traffic never completely halted.
With the United States and Iran issuing conflicting statements as to whether the Strait of Hormuz is open, DW analyzed public data sources to track how shipping traffic has changed during the course of the war and which vessels are still taking the risk of transiting the maritime choke point, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HuyLSkip next section Netanyahu, Trump cite 'positive and productive' closed-door meeting07/29/2026July 29, 2026Netanyahu, Trump cite 'positive and productive' closed-door meeting
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump and their teams praised cooperation between their two administrations after a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
The sit down, the first since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, looked likely to go either way before Netanyahu arrived for Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral, with Trump boisterously complaining about the Israeli leader in public, most notably on Fox News.
Tuesday's talks, which lasted for 90 minutes, were described as "positive and productive" by the White House.
In a social media video posted after the meeting, Netanyahu called it "one of the best conversations I've ever had with the president of the United States," adding that it touched on "our common goal: ensuring that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons."
Trump said he had a "very good meeting" with Netanyahu in a post on his Truth Social platform.
"Obviously, many important subjects were discussed," Trump wrote, without elaborating.
Tuesday's meeting comes ahead of elections in Israel. The Reuters news agency cited unnamed sources as saying Netanyahu aimed to get Trump's support for his reelection campaign ahead of the October 27 vote.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Huy4Skip next section US intercepts Iranian missile attack in Middle East07/29/2026July 29, 2026US intercepts Iranian missile attack in Middle East
The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said it stopped an Iranian missile attack on Tuesday afternoon.
"Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East," CENTCOM said on X.
"All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. US forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness."
CENTCOM did not specify where the missiles were fired.
American troops stationed on bases in the Gulf states as well as Jordan have been targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks this year.
The latest attack marks an end to a lull in fighting that has stretched for days.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Huy6Skip next section Welcome to our coverage07/29/2026July 29, 2026Welcome to our coverage
Zac Crellin | Rana Taha EditorWelcome to our coverage of the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Conflict has flared up again after the US reported that it intercepted an "surprise" missile attack from Iran against its troops in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed "productive" talks with US President Donald Trump during a visit to Washington.
Follow our blog for the latest updates. You can catch up on what happened on Tuesday, Jul 28 on our blog here.
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