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Major Gulf Fighting Restarts As U.S. And Saudi Strike Iran’s Allies In Iraq
The United States and Saudi Arabia jointly carried out airstrikes against Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq on Wednesday, marking the first major US military action in the Middle East since President Trump suspended an intensive bombing campaign last Friday. The strikes, launched in retaliation for drone attacks on Saudi oil targets, mark the first time Saudi Arabia has publicly joined the US in combat operations during the war, potentially widening the conflict by drawing Riyadh directly into confrontation with Iranian-backed Shi'ite proxies.
Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces said at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 wounded in the strikes on several bases across the country, prompting Iraq's government to call an emergency meeting. Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles at US bases in Jordan, where Jordanian air defences intercepted five missiles, and struck three tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also rejected an Omani proposal for joint regional control of the strait, after a US-Iran framework deal reached in June collapsed over the issue. Saudi Arabia faces a further front in Yemen, where the Iran-aligned Houthi movement has blockaded Saudi oil exports in the Red Sea, and oil prices rose again amid the renewed fighting.
In short
- US and Saudi Arabia jointly struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq, killing at least 20
- Iran fired missiles at US bases in Jordan and hit tankers near Hormuz
- Oman's plan to jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz was rejected by Iran
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that striking the armed groups responsible for attacks on Saudi oil targets is a proportionate act of defence and may deter further attacks on regional infrastructure and US forces. They may also see Saudi participation as a way to share the burden of security and signal that attacks on neighbouring states will carry consequences.
The case against
Critics could argue that joint strikes risk widening the war by making Saudi Arabia a direct participant and prompting further Iranian retaliation, as the missile and tanker attacks suggest. They may question whether airstrikes can make the region safer, given the reported deaths in Iraq and the danger to shipping and energy supplies, and favour renewed diplomacy to contain the conflict.
Explained simply
The Middle East has long been divided between rival regional powers, most notably Saudi Arabia (backed by the United States) and Iran. Iran has built influence across the region through armed groups it supports in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, whilst Saudi Arabia seeks to counter this influence and protect its own interests.
The rivalry between these powers plays out through military confrontations, with the United States and Saudi Arabia striking against Iranian-backed armed groups, whilst Iran and its allies respond with attacks. Saudi Arabia faces threats from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and from the Houthi movement in Yemen, a group aligned with Iran that has attacked Saudi oil facilities and shipping routes.
The region is crucial for global oil supplies, and these conflicts repeatedly disrupt energy markets and international shipping. Escalating confrontations between the US, Saudi Arabia and Iran risk drawing more countries into the conflict and destabilising a region that affects economies worldwide.
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