Jordan's military intercepted and destroyed five missiles launched by Iran early Wednesday, while the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out coordinated airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions after a brief lull in hostilities.
The Jordanian Armed Forces said the missiles were successfully intercepted before reaching their targets. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed responsibility, saying its Aerospace Force had fired ballistic missiles at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and the headquarters of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Jordan. Earlier, CENTCOM said American forces remained on high alert across the region.
The latest attacks came as Washington confirmed that U.S. and Saudi warplanes had struck multiple logistics and weapons sites belonging to Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq. According to the U.S. military, the operation was launched in response to more than 30 drone attacks directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard against American forces and Saudi Arabia over the previous 72 hours. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of mostly Shiite militias, said at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 others wounded in the strikes.
The renewed fighting follows several days of diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict, which erupted on February 28 after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Although an interim agreement was reached in June, hostilities resumed amid disagreements over the future of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which a significant share of the world's oil exports passes. Tehran has insisted that shipping through the strait should not return to its pre-war arrangements.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted drones launched by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for a second consecutive day. Yemen's Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Saudi energy infrastructure and said it had forced a Saudi oil tanker to reverse course as part of its declared blockade. Satellite imagery cited in the report showed damage to Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq oil processing facility, while another refinery in Jazan was temporarily shut down following a separate Houthi attack.
The escalation has renewed concerns over the security of global energy supplies. Brent crude oil rose 3.1% to $84.58 a barrel after the latest attacks, reflecting fears that continued instability around the Strait of Hormuz could further disrupt international markets. The conflict has also complicated U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war, which has already claimed American military casualties and driven up the economic costs of the campaign.
Iraq's government responded by convening an emergency meeting of its National Security Council, while officials postponed Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's planned visit to Saudi Arabia. Baghdad reiterated that Iraqi territory should not be used as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring countries, although Iran-backed militias denied involvement in the recent drone strikes, with some groups instead attributing them to the Houthis.
