Calm ends; U.S., Saudi Arabia strike back at Iran-backed group

U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft overnight struck back at Iran-aligned terrorists in eastern Iraq, after a weekend of diplomacy failed to produce peace. The strikes hit logistics and weapons sites belonging to the unnamed terrorist group, according to U.S. Central Command, which oversees military affairs in the Middle East.

The operation came after the terrorists, at the behest of Iran’s military leaders, carried out over 30 aerial drone attacks on U.S. troops and Saudi energy infrastructure during the past few days. Iran itself launched several ballistic missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan early Wednesday morning local time, all of which were intercepted, Central Command said. The attacks against U.S. forces weren’t successful, according to Central Command, which added that Iran’s military and its terrorist proxies must stop such attacks to avoid further U.S. military response. At least 14 U.S. troops have been killed and over 400 wounded during the U.S.-Iran war, according to the Pentagon.

Iran’s government condemned the U.S.-Saudi strikes, saying they hit some Iraqi government and military buildings along with camps for Islamic pilgrims. Several Iraqi fighters died or were injured in the strikes, according to Iran’s state-run Fars News. Iran also stated that its forces struck several vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which it asserted remained completely closed and under its control.

Iraq’s government condemned the U.S.-Saudi strikes as a violation of its sovereignty. The strikes occurred while Iraqi leaders were actively working to address concerns over the terrorists’ attacks on Saudi territory, the leaders said. Iraq would prevent any source from using its land to stage attacks on other states, they added.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the Iranian government’s seizure of a historic Christian church in Tehran.