The United States and Saudi Arabia have carried out joint airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted Iran-aligned militant groups accused of attacking US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure under the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that at least four IRGC members were killed in the operation. Meanwhile, Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a paramilitary coalition dominated by Iran-backed Shiite militias, said at least 20 of its fighters were killed after US-Saudi strikes hit several of its bases.
The latest military action came hours after CENTCOM accused Iran of launching missiles at US military positions in the Middle East in what it described as a surprise attack. The command said the missiles were fired at about 5:45 p.m. EDT (9:45 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday, but all were successfully intercepted.
In response, the IRGC claimed responsibility for targeting a US air base and a military command centre in Jordan, describing the attack as retaliation for what it called American aggression. The group also claimed its naval forces struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after the vessels allegedly ignored warnings and sailed through what it described as an unsafe and illegal route.
Reacting to the Iranian attacks, US President Donald Trump warned of a forceful military response, saying US forces would “hit them hard” and that Iran would “get a beating.”
The exchange of attacks has heightened concerns over a broader regional conflict, with tensions continuing to rise across the Middle East.
