After days of peace, the US says it has prevented an Iranian missile attack on US forces
Listen to this article
Average 5 minutes
The audio version of this article was created by AI-based technology. It can be mispronounced. We are working with our partners to continuously review and improve the results.
Iran launched several ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East on Tuesday, briefly disrupting fighting as mediators tried to bring the two sides back to talks and a ceasefire, the US military said.
All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, the US Central Command said in a statement, adding that the US military “remains alert and in a high state of readiness.”
The US and Iran had a period of calm, when they did not announce an attack for days following weeks of expansion in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway in the Persian Gulf and a small chokepoint through which 20 percent of the world’s oil usually flows.
Iran successfully stemmed the tide when the war began by firing on cargo ships and tankers off its coast or threatening to do so again. After a temporary ceasefire was signed in June, a battle has erupted to control the crisis.
Iran has demanded that ships use a channel close to its coast and said it could charge a fee. The ships had been navigating the southern route off the coast of Oman under US overwatch operation when Iran attacked other ships.
The Saudis say they have repelled the attack
Saudi Arabia said earlier on Tuesday it had shot down warplanes targeting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq for a second day, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they had forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their self-imposed blockade of the regime.
The Ministry of Defense in the kingdom said in a statement that the Air Defense Forces have intercepted and destroyed many planes trying to target petroleum facilities in the eastern region of the country. It says the attack was “relaunched from Iraqi territory and carried out by terrorists affiliated with Iran.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered security forces to investigate after the Saudis suspected a similar attack on Monday. The Iraqi military said in a statement that Iraq is committed to “preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a means or a place to launch any attack against brotherly or friendly countries.”
The Iraqi military has denied involvement in the drone attack. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for Iran-backed armed groups, called the Saudi claims “fabrications” and attributed Monday’s attack to the Houthis, who claimed to have attacked Saudi oil facilities.
The Houthis are targeting the tanks
Meanwhile, the Houthis said they fired missiles at the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal, forcing it to turn back. Last week, they announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, putting another important waterway in the Middle East – through the Bab el-Mandeb strait that leads to the Red Sea – at risk.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said the tanker reported the explosion while sailing south of the Red Sea. It did not name the ship but said the crew and ship were safe.
Rebels fired at least one Saudi ship in the Red Sea last week.
Iran and the US suspended their fighting over the weekend, although tensions remain high as officials say mediators have made progress in bringing the two sides back to talks.
Iran said on Tuesday that US strikes during a high-level escalation destroyed an airport and a maritime control tower and caused damage to 12 bridges and two tunnels, among other infrastructure.
The US military said at the time that it struck a number of military targets in response to Iran’s attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Arab countries hosting US troops.
Trump welcomes Netanyahu
The surprise strikes by Iran took place when Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington along with US President Donald Trump.
The US and Israel started a war against Iran on Feb. 28. But Israel has been notably absent from the recent conflict with the Islamic Republic.
Netanyahu said he had a “very good” meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, their first meeting since the start of the war, which gave Netanyahu an opportunity to mend problems in their relationship.
US President Donald Trump met separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to test US diplomacy. Zelenskyy hopes to renew diplomatic efforts with Russia, while Trump’s talks with Netanyahu come amid disagreements over Iran.
The closed-door meeting lasted about an hour and a half and was “good and productive,” White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said. The White House did not immediately provide additional details.
It happened as both leaders are facing growing pressures at home. Netanyahu is up for re-election and is facing problems due to his deteriorating relationship with Trump.
Trump is under pressure to end an unpopular war that has wreaked havoc on the economy and raised prices ahead of November’s midterm elections.
