US and Saudi forces struck sites in Iraq used by Tehran-backed militias after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on American forces, killing at least 20 people and raising fears of renewed all-out war.
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Key facts
- US military says it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and struck militia sites in Iraq alongside Saudi forces.
- The Wednesday strikes killed at least 20 members of a former paramilitary alliance that includes pro-Iran groups.
- Iran targeted a US base in Jordan, according to a US official cited by Axios.
- Oil prices spiked after the fighting and claimed Iranian attacks on three tankers in the strait of Hormuz.
- The flare-up raised the risk of a return to all-out war in a five-month conflict.
The US military said it intercepted an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabian forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days, according to the Guardian.
The strikes, carried out on Wednesday, killed at least 20 members of a former paramilitary alliance that includes pro-Iran groups, the Guardian reported.
Washington characterized the exchange as being triggered by an “attempted surprise attack” by Tehran, after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East, shattering a brief pause in the fighting. Iran’s target was a US base in Jordan, Axios cited a US official as saying.
The flare-up unfolded on multiple fronts, raising the risk of a return to all-out war, NPR reported. It underscored the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy.
Oil prices spiked following the renewed fighting and claimed Iranian attacks on three tankers in the strait of Hormuz, according to the Guardian. The strait is a critical route for global oil shipments.
Why it matters
The renewed fighting threatens to reignite a five-month conflict into full-scale war, drawing in the US and Saudi Arabia against Iran and its allied militias. With oil prices spiking and shipping in the strait of Hormuz under threat, the escalation carries direct consequences for the world economy.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed in the US and Saudi strikes in Iraq?
The Wednesday strikes killed at least 20 members of a former paramilitary alliance that includes pro-Iran groups, according to the Guardian.
What did Iran target in its missile attack?
Iran's target was a US base in Jordan, according to a US official cited by Axios.
Why did oil prices rise?
Oil prices spiked after the flare-up of fighting and claimed Iranian attacks on three tankers in the strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, the Guardian reported.
Timeline
- US joins forces with Saudis to strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq
The Guardian World: Oil price spikes after flare-up of fighting and claimed Iranian attacks on three tankers in strait of Hormuz The US military said it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabia forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch
- Iran resumes missile attacks as U.S. and Saudis strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq
NPR News: The flare-up on multiple fronts raised the risk of a return to all-out war, underscoring the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy.