West Asia Tensions Escalate: US and Saudi Forces Strike Iran-Backed Groups in Iraq After Drone Attacks
Baghdad/Washington: Tensions in West Asia have intensified after the United States and Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq, targeting locations allegedly used for planning and carrying out attacks in recent days.
The US military said the strikes were conducted in response to more than 30 drone attacks linked to Iran-backed militias that allegedly targeted American forces and Saudi energy facilities.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American and Saudi fighter aircraft hit multiple logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq. The command warned that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and groups supporting it must stop such attacks to avoid further military action.
Saudi Arabia had earlier claimed that it intercepted drones launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq for the second consecutive day. The drones were reportedly aimed at petroleum facilities in the eastern part of the kingdom.
Following the strikes, sources from Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) said that several members of the former paramilitary alliance were killed and others injured. Officials said the attacks hit PMF positions across multiple provinces, with the deadliest strike reported in Nineveh province, where at least 10 people were killed.
Jordan’s military also announced that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed five missiles launched from Iran amid renewed clashes between Tehran and Washington.
Meanwhile, Iran rejected a proposal from Oman for joint regional management of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian official said Tehran believed the proposal had little chance of success and accused the US and Saudi Arabia of pressuring Oman over the issue.
The conflict has also affected global energy markets. Oil prices rose by more than 3% in Asian trading after reports of missile interceptions and rising tensions between Iran and the US.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards separately claimed that their naval forces had stopped three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that the vessels ignored warnings and followed unsafe routes.
The latest developments come amid growing concerns that escalating military actions between Iran, the US and regional allies could further destabilise West Asia and impact global energy supplies.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
