Iran launched a series of missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Jordan on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict that has now spread across multiple fronts. The ballistic missile strikes, which targeted Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base—a key hub for U.S. regional operations—were reportedly intercepted by Jordanian defense systems, and no casualties or damage were immediately reported. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard confirmed responsibility for the missile launches, with state media citing the action as retaliation amid rising tensions.
In response, U.S. and Saudi coalition forces conducted coordinated airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq, striking multiple logistics and weapons sites. According to Iraqi militia sources, at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisors were killed, while more than 30 others were reportedly wounded. The militias targeted belong primarily to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a Shiite coalition affiliated with Iran but officially under Iraqi military command. The U.S. military described the strikes as a direct response to numerous drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities over the previous days, which Saudi officials linked to Iran-backed groups based in Iraq. The Saudi Defense Ministry stated it does not seek escalation but emphasized its intent to respond to any aggression.
The Iraqi government condemned the U.S.-Saudi strikes as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, with the Iraqi presidency calling for a halt to attacks by armed groups against neighboring countries. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s office expressed concern over the rising conflict and postponed a scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia amid heightened tensions. While U.S. officials claimed the airstrikes were coordinated with Baghdad, Iraqi authorities denied prior consent and urged all parties to prevent further escalation.
Adding to the widening conflict, drone attacks caused fires on two natural gas vessels at the Egyptian port of Damietta on the Mediterranean, including a U.S.-owned floating storage tanker and a Greek-owned tanker. Egyptian officials confirmed the fires but did not specify those responsible, while regional maritime security analyses attributed the damage to drone strikes. President Donald Trump acknowledged the incidents and assured that the United States would respond forcefully.
The conflict's expansion also includes renewed hostilities involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Iranian allies who have declared a blockade of Saudi shipping lanes through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a vital maritime chokepoint. The Houthis claimed recent drone strikes on Saudi oil facilities on the Red Sea coast, including damage to a major oil-processing complex and a refinery in Jazan.
Iran rejected a proposal by Oman to jointly manage ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically crucial waterway for global oil shipments that Iran has recently disrupted through attacks on commercial vessels. These developments contributed to a spike in global oil prices, with Brent crude rising above $84 per barrel amid fears of further supply disruptions.
The escalating violence marks a departure from recent attempts at diplomacy and ceasefire negotiations, which collapsed following renewed clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and across the region. Both U.S. and regional officials have indicated ongoing efforts to restore calm, though the situation remains volatile. Washington has warned that further hard military responses to Iran are forthcoming, with President Trump emphasizing U.S. resolve to retaliate decisively for attacks on American forces and allies. Meanwhile, Iran continues to deny directing militia attacks from Iraqi territory, even as tensions deepen the risk of broader regional confrontation.