US thwarts ‘surprise’ Iran missile attack, and joins forces with Saudis to hit targets in Iraq | US-Israel war on Iran
The US military said it shot down an Iranian missile attack and was working with Saudi Arabian forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days.
In what Washington described as Tehran’s “surprise attack attempt”, Iran broke the brief pause in hostilities by launching numerous ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East. According to Axios, a US official said that Iran’s target was a US base in Jordan.
US central command (Centcom) said all Iranian missiles launched on Tuesday had been intercepted, and the US warned that any attack on American troops or Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes.
The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said several people were killed and others injured in joint US-Saudi Arabian attacks on targets in Iraq. PMF is an Iraqi state security service infiltrated by Iran.
In another sign that the lull in the conflict may be coming to an end, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday claimed to have hit and stopped three “violating” oil tankers traveling on an “illegal” route in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported. The price of Brent crude oil rose after the news of the flare-up and was around $88 per barrel.
Both sides had exchanged fire over the weekend, following nearly two weeks of U.S. nightly strikes on Iran and Tehran’s repeated missile and drone salvos targeting Washington’s allies around the Gulf.
Oil prices fell after a weekend slump and Donald Trump said there was a “good chance” of progress in talks to end the war.
US and Saudi warplanes recently attacked Iran-backed militants in Iraq after they accused them of launching drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
Iraqi prime minister Ali al-Zaidi on Tuesday ordered security agencies to investigate alleged attacks by militant groups and said his country was determined to “prevent Iraqi territory from being used as a route or starting point for any attacks targeting sister or friendly countries.”
Iraqi militias have denied any role in the drone attacks. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed groups, called the Saudi claims “fabricated” and implied that Monday’s attacks were carried out by the Houthis, who claim to have attacked Saudi oil facilities.
Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed they forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn back as part of their signature blockade. Last week, they announced they would blockade Saudi ships, risking another key Middle Eastern waterway to the Red Sea via the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The UK’s Merchant Marine Operations Center said a tanker reported hearing explosions while traveling in the southern Red Sea. The name of the tanker was not given, but it was stated that the crew and the ship were safe.
The Houthis also opened fire on at least one Saudi tanker in the Red Sea last week.
Iran’s surprise attack came during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. Israel not prominently featured in recent clashes with Iran Netanyahu said he had an “excellent” meeting with Trump at the White House; This was the first time they had met since the start of the war, giving Netanyahu a chance to ease tensions in their relationship.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closed-door meeting lasted about an hour and a half and was “positive and productive.”
This comes at a time when both leaders face increasing pressure at home. Netanyahu is up for re-election and is in a difficult position, in part because of his worsening relationship with Trump. Trump is under pressure to end the unpopular war that has wreaked economic havoc and sent prices soaring ahead of midterm elections in November.
With Associated Press and France-Presse Agency
