Iran launched several ballistic missiles in what it described as a "surprise attack" targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East, according to the U.S. military, marking the end of a brief lull in tensions between the two countries.
The attack reportedly occurred at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time (21:45 GMT) on Tuesday. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said all incoming missiles were successfully intercepted and destroyed, although it did not disclose the locations of the targeted military facilities.
At the same time, CENTCOM announced that U.S. and Saudi Arabian forces carried out airstrikes against what it described as Iran-backed militant positions in Iraq. The military said the operation was conducted in response to a series of drone attacks allegedly directed by Iran.
Iran has not yet commented publicly on the reported strikes.
If confirmed, the exchange of attacks would end a short period of relative calm that had raised hopes for renewed diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran.
U.S. Says Airstrikes Targeted Weapons Sites
CENTCOM stated that the joint operation targeted multiple weapons storage and logistics facilities used by Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Iraq.
According to the U.S. military, the strikes were a direct response to more than 30 drone attacks allegedly coordinated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the previous 72 hours.
The command warned that Iran and its allied groups should halt such attacks to avoid further military action.
Saudi Arabia Reports Drone Interceptions
Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced that its air defense forces had intercepted and destroyed drones targeting oil facilities in the country's Eastern Province.
Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki accused Iran-linked armed groups operating in Iraq of carrying out the attacks.
Diplomatic Hopes Face New Uncertainty
The renewed military exchanges came just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington had been holding "very friendly" discussions with Iran. At that point, both sides had gone three consecutive days without launching attacks.
Despite the apparent diplomatic efforts, tensions remain high, with the Strait of Hormuz continuing to be a major point of disagreement due to its strategic importance for global energy supplies.
Iran has denied that any such negotiations with the United States are currently taking place.
Editor's Note: Some claims in this report come from statements issued by U.S. military officials. Iran had not publicly responded to those claims at the time of publication, and some details could not be independently verified.
Comments
Post a Comment