The United States and Saudi Arabia have launched joint airstrikes against Iran-backed militants in Iraq, ending a brief period of relative calm and raising the risk of all-out war. These operations, which killed at least 20 fighters, followed drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. In response, Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in the Middle East, targeting bases in Jordan. President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran very hard, leading the U.S. military to conduct a heavy wave of strikes hitting dozens of Iranian targets, including military command centers and drone facilities.
The U.S. military reported that the two-hour operation targeted sites across southern Iran, including strategic locations on Qeshm Island and Bushehr. Jordan reported intercepting missiles shortly after these strikes. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have halted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. While the U.S. stated that bombing in Iraq was coordinated with Baghdad, the Iraqi government publicly condemned the attacks and called an emergency meeting as the conflict expands.
The resumption of hostilities has dimmed hopes for a diplomatic resolution. Iran rejected an Omani proposal for joint oversight of the Strait of Hormuz, calling the plan unreasonable. As mediators attempt to restore a ceasefire, the escalation has caused global oil prices to jump 5 percent. The conflict continues to spread, with reports of an explosion in Egypt and ongoing tensions over strategic export routes.