The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Tuesday against Iran-backed militants in Iraq, according to the US military. The strikes targeted 'Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure,' the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. The Saudi defense ministry confirmed its involvement, stating it hit 'targets belonging to those militias present on Iraqi territory that are linked to attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities.'
The strikes followed a series of drone attacks launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq, targeting US forces and Saudi oil facilities. Riyadh had previously called on the Iraqi government to prevent such attacks from its territory, prompting Baghdad to order an investigation. CENTCOM warned that 'the IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response.'
Earlier on Tuesday, CENTCOM reported that Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles in an 'attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East,' but all were intercepted. This follows nearly two weeks of nightly US strikes on Iran and repeated missile and drone salvos by Tehran targeting Washington's allies around the Gulf. Both sides had held fire over the weekend.
The escalating tensions highlight the ongoing conflict between Iran and its regional adversaries, with the US and Saudi Arabia taking direct action against perceived threats. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further military engagements.