The US military said it intercepted an Iranian missile barrage and collaborated with Saudi forces to strike sites in Iraq used by Tehran-backed militias, killing at least 20 members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a state security service infiltrated by Iran. The strikes on Wednesday followed what Washington described as an attempted surprise attack by Iran, which launched multiple ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East, shattering a brief pause in fighting.
Joint US-Saudi operations target militia infrastructure
US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed all Iranian missiles launched on Tuesday were intercepted, and warned that any further attacks on American troops or Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes. The joint US-Saudi strikes on targets in Iraq killed at least 20 PMF members and wounded others, according to Iraqi officials.
The Iraqi prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, ordered security agencies to investigate alleged attacks by militant groups, stating that Iraq is committed to preventing its territory from being used as a launch point for attacks against neighboring countries. The Iraqi militias denied involvement in drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq calling the claims fabrications and suggesting the Houthis were responsible.
Oil prices surge amid Strait of Hormuz tensions
In a further escalation, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed on Wednesday to have struck and halted three oil tankers sailing an illegal route in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. The price of Brent crude oil rose after the news, hovering around $88 a barrel. Oil prices had previously plummeted after a weekend lull in fighting, and Donald Trump had expressed optimism about progress in negotiations.
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their self-styled blockade. Last week, they announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, threatening the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported a tanker hearing explosions in the southern Red Sea, though the crew and vessel were safe.
Netanyahu meets Trump amid regional tensions
Iran's surprise attack coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, his first sit-down with Trump since launching the war. Netanyahu described the meeting as excellent, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it positive and productive. Both leaders face domestic pressures: Netanyahu is up for re-election amid a strained relationship with Trump, while Trump is under pressure to end an unpopular war that has driven up prices ahead of midterm elections.
