CAIRO (AP) — Iran launched missiles at American forces in the Middle East early Wednesday, coinciding with U.S. and Saudi Arabian strikes on Tehran-backed militias in Iraq that resulted in the deaths of at least 20 fighters. Additionally, six Iranian advisers were reported killed in the U.S.-Saudi operation, according to two Iraqi militia officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information. This escalation follows several days of relative calm and raises concerns about the potential for a broader conflict. Analysts note that the ongoing fighting could impact U.S. military stockpiles of advanced munitions necessary for base and ally defense.
A Fox News reporter stated that President Donald Trump indicated the U.S. would respond strongly to the Iranian missile attacks. Saudi Arabia has accused Iraqi militias of launching drone strikes against its oil facilities in recent days. While one coalition of Iraqi militias denied these claims, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, another Iran-aligned group, acknowledged their involvement in attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.
Prior to the recent violence, there had been optimism among mediators regarding the possibility of resuming negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. However, an interim agreement collapsed amid renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy supplies.
Oil prices reacted to the renewed conflict, with Brent crude rising by 3.1% to $84.58 per barrel. Iran's Revolutionary Guard reported that it targeted Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base with ballistic missiles, but Jordan's military intercepted and destroyed five of them without any reported casualties.
In response to the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, U.S. and Saudi fighter jets targeted logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq. The Saudi Defense Ministry stated it does not seek escalation but will respond to aggression. The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, reported casualties from the strikes, while Iraqi President Nizar Amidi condemned the airstrikes as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.
The Iraqi National Security Council also criticized the strikes, stating they occurred while the Iraqi government was engaged in discussions to address concerns raised by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. A planned visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to Saudi Arabia was postponed indefinitely.
The situation is further complicated by ongoing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have declared a blockade on Saudi shipping, potentially affecting trade routes in the region. The Houthis claimed responsibility for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, asserting that their actions were in retaliation for a Saudi drone incursion into Yemen's airspace.