{"id":65642,"date":"2026-07-29T22:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T02:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-forces-launch-massive-retaliatory-strikes-on-irgc-targets-china-solar-sector-hits-historic-milestone\/65642\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T22:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T02:38:16","slug":"us-forces-launch-massive-retaliatory-strikes-on-irgc-targets-china-solar-sector-hits-historic-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-forces-launch-massive-retaliatory-strikes-on-irgc-targets-china-solar-sector-hits-historic-milestone\/65642\/","title":{"rendered":"US Forces Launch Massive Retaliatory Strikes on IRGC Targets; China Solar Sector Hits Historic Milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a &quot;heavy wave&quot; of airstrikes against dozens of IRGC targets across Iran<\/strong> starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on July 29, 2026, in response to attempted ballistic missile attacks on American personnel.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">Oil prices<\/a> surged as Brent crude rose over 4% to approximately $87.50 a barrel<\/strong> following the escalation, which ended a brief diplomatic lull in the regional conflict.<\/li>\n<li><strong>China\u2019s solar capacity is projected to overtake coal as the nation&#39;s largest power source in 2026<\/strong>, with total installed capacity reaching <strong>1.27 billion kilowatts (kW)<\/strong> by mid-year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beijing is shifting its energy strategy from &quot;sheer scale&quot; to &quot;quality and efficiency,&quot;<\/strong> implementing new regulations to curb &quot;irrational competition&quot; and price wars that have eroded industry profit margins.<\/li>\n<li><strong>U.S. and Saudi forces conducted joint precision strikes in Iraq<\/strong> earlier in the week, targeting logistics and weapons facilities used by Iran-aligned groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>U.S. Military Responds to Iranian Ballistic Missile Threats<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>U.S. military<\/strong> has completed a large-scale strike operation against the <strong>Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)<\/strong> inside Iran. According to <strong>CENTCOM<\/strong>, the operation targeted dozens of sites, including <strong>command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance hubs<\/strong>. The strikes were characterized as a &quot;powerful response&quot; to an attempted surprise attack on July 28, where Iranian forces launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan.<\/p>\n<p>President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> had signaled the move earlier on Wednesday, stating the U.S. would be &quot;hitting them very hard.&quot; Military officials confirmed that all Iranian missiles from the previous day&#39;s attempt were successfully intercepted by <strong>Patriot air-defense systems<\/strong>. The latest exchange has reignited fears of a broader regional war, disrupting recent diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire.<\/p>\n<p><em>Market analysts noted that the return to direct hostilities immediately pressured energy markets.<\/em> <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> jumped significantly as traders factored in potential disruptions to the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, a critical chokepoint for global oil transit. <strong>CENTCOM<\/strong> emphasized that the strikes aimed to diminish threats to both American forces and international commercial shipping.<\/p>\n<h2>China&#39;s Solar Sector Reaches Tipping Point Amid Policy Shift<\/h2>\n<p>In a historic shift for the global energy landscape, <strong>China&#39;s solar power capacity<\/strong> is poised to surpass coal as the country&#39;s primary source of installed power this year. Data from the <strong>China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA)<\/strong> shows that solar generation surged more than <strong>40% year-on-year<\/strong> in the first half of 2026. This milestone comes as Beijing accelerates its green transition to meet 2030 carbon-peak goals.<\/p>\n<p>However, the rapid expansion has led to significant market volatility. Beijing has begun &quot;hitting the brakes&quot; on raw capacity growth to address <strong>overcapacity and cutthroat price wars<\/strong> that have forced many manufacturers to operate at a loss. The <strong>Ministry of Industry and Information Technology<\/strong> is now prioritizing &quot;orderly growth&quot; and operational efficiency over simple volume.<\/p>\n<p>Leading manufacturers like JinkoSolar (<a href=\"\/stock\/JKS\">JKS<\/a>) and Trina Solar (<a href=\"\/stock\/TSL\">TSL<\/a>) are navigating a landscape where new government regulations mandate higher efficiency standards for factories. <em>Industry experts suggest this &quot;rationalization&quot; phase will likely lead to consolidation, favoring companies with superior technology and stronger balance sheets.<\/em> Despite a <strong>66% drop in new installations<\/strong> in early 2026 due to policy shifts, the long-term trajectory for Chinese renewables remains dominant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a &quot;heavy wave&quot; of airstrikes against dozens of IRGC targets across Iran starting 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