Iran launched “multiple” ballistic missiles in what the US military described as an “attempted surprise attack” on American forces in the Middle East, bringing a brief pause in hostilities to an end.
The attack took place at 17:45 EDT (21:45 GMT) on Tuesday. According to the US Central Command (Centcom), all of the missiles were “successfully intercepted”. The command did not disclose the locations that were targeted, reports BBC.
In response, US and Saudi Arabian forces carried out strikes against “Iran-aligned terrorists” in Iraq, which Centcom said came in retaliation for Iran-directed drone attacks.
Tehran has not yet commented on the developments. The renewed exchange of strikes ended a short period of calm that had been intended to allow negotiators to return to the negotiating table.
Centcom said US and Saudi forces targeted “multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites” in eastern Iraq.
The US military described the operation as “a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours”, referring to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Centcom also warned that Iran’s military “and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response”.
Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced that its military had intercepted and destroyed drones aimed at petroleum facilities in the country’s eastern region.
Saudi defence ministry spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki alleged that Iran-affiliated militia groups operating from Iraqi territory had launched the drones.
The renewed fighting came a day after US President Donald Trump spoke of “very friendly negotiations” with Iran. At that stage, the two sides had gone three consecutive days without exchanging strikes.
Control and access to the Strait of Hormuz remain a major obstacle in the discussions, although Tehran has denied that any negotiations are taking place.
The latest escalation coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. During the trip, he met President Trump at the White House and attended the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Iran hawk.
According to recent Pentagon data, at least 624 US military personnel have been wounded since President Trump ordered strikes against Iran in February.
The Pentagon said 417 of those service members were injured during Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran.
