US and Saudi warplanes strike Iran-backed militants in Iraq

U.S. and Saudi Arabian warplanes conducted coordinated airstrikes on Tuesday against Iran‑backed militant groups operating in Iraq, the U.S. Central Command reported. The attacks targeted fighters who had launched more than two dozen drone assaults across the region in recent days, prompting a joint response aimed at degrading the militants’ capabilities and preventing further escalation. The strikes were part of an ongoing campaign to counter the influence of Tehran‑aligned forces in Iraq and to protect U.S. and allied interests in the area.

In a separate development, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that its forces intercepted and halted three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, claiming the vessels were linked to hostile activities. The incident underscores heightened tensions over a critical maritime chokepoint that handles a substantial share of global oil shipments. Both episodes reflect the broader volatility in the Middle East, as regional powers and their partners continue to engage in military actions to assert strategic objectives. The situation remains fluid, and updates are being provided through live coverage.