Iran and US Trade Strikes, Shattering Brief Lull in Fighting
The US military said Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles that were intercepted, while US and Saudi forces struck Iran-aligned militants in Iraq in retaliation for drone attacks, ending a short pause in hostilities.
Iran launched "multiple" ballistic missiles in an "attempted surprise attack" on American forces in the Middle East, the US military said, shattering a brief lull in the fighting. All missiles were "successfully intercepted," according to US Central Command (Centcom), which did not disclose any locations of targets.
The US military and Saudi Arabian forces struck "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq in retaliation for Iran-directed drone attacks, Centcom reported. The strikes targeted "multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites" in eastern Iraq. Centcom described it as "a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours," referring to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Tehran has not yet commented. The crossfire ends a brief break in hostilities between the US and Iran, which was intended to bring negotiators back to the table. Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump had spoken of "very friendly negotiations" with Iran.
Separately, Saudi Arabia said its military intercepted and destroyed drones targeting petroleum facilities in the country's eastern region. Defence ministry spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki alleged the drones were launched by Iran-affiliated militia groups in Iraqi territory.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a key sticking point in talks, which Tehran denies are even happening. Oil prices rose on Wednesday due to concerns over potential disruptions to energy shipments through the strait. Brent crude was up 4.3% to $87.70 a barrel, while US-traded oil rose 4.2% to $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 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 Pentagon data, with 417 of those injured in Operation Epic Fury.
