Live Update: US and Saudi strikes Iraq as Iran-backed militants face aerial assault

US and Saudi strikes Iraq escalate regional tension after Iran‑backed groups launched ↓ 24 drone sorties in recent days.

US and Saudi strikes Iraq: operational snapshot

The United States Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force dispatched fighter jets Tuesday, targeting militia positions in eastern Iraq, according to a Pentagon statement. Official sources said more than two dozen unmanned craft were intercepted, and ground targets were bombed.

“We are neutralizing threats that jeopardize civilian safety,” a US commander told reporters.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced it had detained three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, a move that could disrupt global energy flows. Analysts note that the maritime action follows a pattern of retaliation after Tehran’s proxies struck U.S. interests. Reuters reported that oil prices edged higher on the news. The latest flare‑up occurs as the region still wrestles with the lingering effects of the pandemic, which hampered early detection of militant logistics.