US, Saudi forces strike Iran allies in Iraq

The conflict involving Iran, the United States and its regional allies has entered a new and more dangerous phase, with fresh military strikes reported across

The conflict involving Iran, the United States and its regional allies has entered a new and more dangerous phase, with fresh military strikes reported across the Middle East.

US and Saudi forces carried out coordinated airstrikes against Iran-aligned armed groups in eastern Iraq, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The operation came after a series of drone attacks that Washington and Riyadh attributed to groups linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

CENTCOM said American and Saudi fighter jets targeted weapons and logistics facilities used by the armed groups. The US military claimed the groups had carried out more than 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks in recent days, including strikes targeting Saudi energy infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia also confirmed the operation, saying its forces acted alongside CENTCOM after drones were launched from Iraqi territory toward petroleum facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province and Riyadh region. Riyadh said it did not seek a wider escalation but warned that it would respond to further attacks.

The latest strikes were followed by an explosion at the headquarters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Basra. The PMF is an umbrella organisation containing several armed factions, including groups closely aligned with Iran. The cause of the blast and any casualties were not immediately confirmed.

Meanwhile, tensions escalated further after the US military reported that Iran had launched multiple ballistic missiles toward American military positions in Jordan. CENTCOM said the missiles were intercepted and that US forces remained on heightened alert.

Iranian authorities had not immediately issued an official statement regarding the missile launches. However, an Iranian military official rejected claims that Tehran was responsible for projectiles fired toward Saudi Arabia, warning that attributing attacks on US interests to Iran could be a serious miscalculation.

The developments threaten to derail diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the conflict. Iran has repeatedly warned that any attempt to restrict its control over the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a renewed military confrontation.

The latest escalation also comes as US President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Their discussions reportedly focused on Iran and the possibility of renewed military action