Washington, July 29: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday that the US and Saudi Arabian forces have carried out joint airstrikes on several bases in Iraq used by Iran-backed militias.
It said the action was taken in response to attacks targeting US forces and Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure in the past few days.
According to CENTCOM, all missiles launched by Iran at US forces in the Middle East were successfully intercepted. “Our forces are fully alert and ready to deal with any situation,” it said.
Tensions between the US and Iran had temporarily eased in recent weeks. However, the conflict has intensified again with these new attacks.
CENTCOM has accused Iran-backed militias in Iraq of carrying out more than 30 drone attacks in the past 72 hours.
Drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities
Saudi Arabia also said its air defenses shot down drones launched from Iraq for a second day on Tuesday.
The Saudi Defense Ministry said the drones targeted oil facilities in the eastern part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” organization has rejected the Saudi accusations. It said Monday’s attack may have been carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Threat to oil tanker in the Red Sea
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have fired a missile at the Saudi Arabian oil tanker NCC Ghazal, forcing it to turn back.
Tensions flare again in the Strait of Hormuz
Since the start of the war, Iran has been blocking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes. Tensions over control of the strait have continued even after a temporary ceasefire. Some ships are using the Omani coast for security reasons, as part of the US Navy’s security presence.
Trump-Netanyahu meeting
Amid these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The White House said the meeting, which lasted about an hour and a half, was “positive and productive”.