US and Saudi Forces Strike Iran-Backed Militias After Missile Attack on Jordan

After six days of relative calm following the last US strikes on Iran, tensions escalated overnight as Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched a missile barrage targeting US forces in Jordan. All five missiles were intercepted successfully, according to Jordanian reports. In response, US and Saudi air forces conducted strikes on pro-Iranian militia targets in Iraq, reportedly killing around 20 Iranian advisors, including members of the Revolutionary Guards and technical consultants. President Donald Trump threatened a severe retaliation against Iran, stating, "We're going to beat the fuc*ing sh*t out of them," though he did not specify a timeline for further action.

Trump also addressed recent regional incidents, including an explosion at an Egyptian port linked to Iranian retaliation and reports of China supplying missile launchers to Iran, expressing skepticism about China's involvement. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and President Trump, discussing Iran's threat and emphasizing Israel's unique combination of willingness and capability to confront it. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman also met with US Vice President JD Vance to discuss joint operations and Saudi Arabia's stance on ongoing conflicts involving Iranian proxies.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah's use of an explosive drone against an Israeli engineering vehicle violated the ceasefire, prompting Israel's military to consider retaliatory strikes against Hezbollah tunnel networks in southern Lebanon. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited the area, warning troops to prepare for rapid and offensive responses. A senior Israeli official confirmed Iran possesses approximately 1,500 to 1,600 missiles and affirmed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) indicated that the recent airstrikes in Iraq were coordinated with the Iraqi government and aimed to degrade the militias' missile and drone capabilities. Admiral Brad Cooper recommended halting the ongoing airstrike campaign in the Strait of Hormuz, influencing Trump's recent decision to pause US attacks on Iran. CENTCOM also reported intercepting and redirecting 20 commercial ships in the Strait as part of its blockade efforts.

Despite Trump's harsh rhetoric about "blowing up" Iranian sites, including the fortified Fordow nuclear facility, it remains unclear if the US will escalate its military campaign. The recent Iranian missile attack has instead galvanized an informal coalition of Gulf states and the US against Iranian proxies and Iran itself. Trump described his recent meeting with Netanyahu as "excellent" and indicated openness to continued diplomatic talks with Iran, while maintaining readiness for further military action if necessary.