After three days without direct exchanges, tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated once more. The U.S. military claims Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles toward American forces in the Middle East overnight, while Washington says it responded with strikes targeting Iran-backed armed groups alongside Saudi Arabia.
According to the BBC, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the missile attack occurred on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time (3:45 a.m. Wednesday in Bangladesh). CENTCOM stated that all incoming missiles were successfully intercepted but did not disclose the intended targets.
In response, the United States and Saudi Arabia reportedly carried out strikes against positions of Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq. CENTCOM described the operation as retaliation for a series of drone attacks allegedly directed by Iran. Tehran has not yet commented on the claims.
The renewed exchange effectively ends a three-day lull in hostilities, a period that had raised hopes of bringing both sides back to diplomatic talks.
CENTCOM said the joint operation targeted logistics hubs and weapons storage facilities used by armed groups in eastern Iraq. The U.S. military also claimed the strikes were a response to more than 30 drone attacks allegedly carried out over the past 72 hours under the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The command warned that Iran and what it described as its “terrorist proxy groups” must halt such attacks to avoid further military action.
Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced that its air defenses had intercepted drones aimed at oil facilities in the country’s eastern region. Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki accused Iran-aligned militias operating inside Iraq of launching the drones.
The renewed violence comes just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said discussions with Iran had been “very positive,” following three consecutive days without military exchanges.
Despite those comments, disputes over control and navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz remain a major obstacle to any potential agreement. Iran has continued to deny that such negotiations are taking place.
According to the latest figures released by the Pentagon, 624 U.S. service members have been injured since President Trump ordered military action against Iran in February. The Defense Department said 417 of those injuries were linked to the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury.
