WASHINGTON— The U.S. military said it knocked down a surprise Iranian ballistic missile attack against American forces in the Middle East on Tuesday, shattering a brief pause in the fighting as mediators tried to get both sides back to negotiations. In addition, American and Saudi forces struck sites used by Iran-backed militias in Iraq to carry out attacks in recent days.
All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, the U.S. Central Command said, adding that U.S. forces “remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.”
The United States and Iran had experienced a period of calm, during which neither announced attacks for days following weeks of escalation over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway and narrow chokepoint through which 20 percent of the world’s oil normally flows.
There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the U.S. military statement or the strikes.
President Donald Trump told Fox News Channel in an interview earlier Tuesday that Iran knows he’ll “finish the job” if its leaders don’t make a deal to end the war.
Iran had effectively closed the strait when the war began by firing at freighters and tankers off its coast or threatening them. Following the signing of an interim ceasefire deal in June, a battle for control over the strait erupted.
Saudi Arabia Says It Intercepted Drone Attacks
Saudi Arabia said earlier on Tuesday that it shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for a second day, while Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their self-styled blockade of the kingdom.The kingdom's Defense Ministry said in a statement that air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones that had attempted to target petroleum facilities in the nation's eastern region. It said the attacks were “once again launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-affiliated terrorist militias.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered security agencies to investigate after the Saudis alleged 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 route or launching point for any attack targeting brotherly or friendly countries.”
Saudi Oil Tanker Targeted
Meanwhile, the Houthis claim to have 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 key Middle Eastern waterway—through the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea—at risk.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said a tanker reported hearing explosions while traveling in the southern Red Sea. It did not name the tanker but said the crew and vessel were safe.
The Houthi terrorists fired on at least one Saudi tanker in the Red Sea last week.
Iran and the United States paused their fighting over the weekend, though tensions remain high even as officials said mediators achieved progress in getting the two sides back to negotiations.
Trump Welcomes Netanyahu
Iran’s surprise strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington and Trump. The United States and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28 but Israel has been notably absent from the recent fighting with the Islamic Republic.Netanyahu said he had an “excellent” meeting with Trump at the White House, their first sitdown since launching the war, which offered Netanyahu a chance to smooth out strains in their relationship.
The closed-door meeting lasted nearly an hour and a half and was “positive and productive,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The White House did not immediately offer more details.