Saudi Arabia joins US in strikes on Iran-backed militia

Saudi Arabia has joined the US in carrying out strikes against an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, in a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict.

US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes were against “Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure”.

The statement did not name the militia. However, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) said at least 10 of its members had been killed.

It comes after Iran launched “multiple” ballistic missiles in an “attempted surprise attack” on American forces in the Middle East, according to Centcom. The exchange ends a brief break in US-Iran hostilities.

The US said the attack occurred at 17:45 EDT (21:45 GMT) on Tuesday, with all missiles “successfully intercepted”. Iran said it had targeted a US base in Jordan.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said it had hit three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Tasnim News Agency.

Centcom said US and Saudi fighter jets had struck “multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours”.

It called the attacks “unwarranted” and added that they had failed.

“The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response,” the Centcom statement said.

The PMF said the US-Saudi attacks were “a dangerous escalation” as well as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.

The PMF is an umbrella organisation that contains several pro-Iranian militias that are part of the network of proxies Tehran has used to advance its interests across the Middle East for years.

Those militias have attacked US personnel and interests in Iraq on a number of occasions, aiming to force the remaining US troops to leave the country. The US has regularly struck back at the militias.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia said its military had intercepted and destroyed drones targeting petroleum facilities in the country’s eastern region.

Defence ministry spokesman Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki alleged the drones were launched by Iran-affiliated militia groups in Iraqi territory.

The reignited hostilities come two days after US President Donald Trump spoke of “very friendly negotiations” with Iran. At that point, the two sides had not exchanged strikes for a third consecutive day.

The pause in fighting had followed 13 straight nights of bombing by the US, which said it had destroyed tunnels and bridges in southern Iran. Scores of people were reported to have died in the strikes.

Access and control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a key sticking point in talks, which Tehran has denied are even happening.

Oil prices rose early on Wednesday over concerns that an escalation in the conflict could further disrupt energy shipments through the strait.

In morning trading in Asia, the global benchmark Brent crude was up by 4.3% $87.70 (£65.98) a barrel, while US-traded oil was 4.2% higher at $82.62.

The latest strikes coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he met Trump at the White House and attended the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Iran hawk.

At least 624 US military service members have been wounded since Trump ordered strikes against Iran in February, according to recent Pentagon data.

The Pentagon said 417 of those personnel were injured in relation to Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran.