Iran and Allies Strike Ships, US Bases; US and Saudi Jets Bomb Militias in Iraq for 12th Night
Iran launched missiles at Jordan and struck US bases, while the Houthis hit two Saudi oil tankers, as the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq for the 12th consecutive night.
The United States and Saudi Arabia launched joint precision airstrikes on Tuesday against Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) [206181]. CENTCOM stated the groups were ordered by Iran's Revolutionary Guard to attack American military sites and Saudi infrastructure [206181]. American and Saudi fighter jets hit several logistics and weapons facilities belonging to the militants across eastern Iraq, and multiple fatalities have been reported [206181]. The operation was a response to drone attacks launched by the Revolutionary Guard over the previous 72 hours [206181].
The U.S. military has now launched attacks against Iran for 12 consecutive nights, hitting targets across the country [203723][202700]. On the 11th night, CENTCOM announced strikes designed to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz [202678]. In response, Iranian drones attacked U.S. targets near Camp Doha in Kuwait [202678][202700]. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also announced it blocked three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments [203723][202700].
Jordan’s military said it intercepted five missiles fired from Iran late Tuesday [206478]. The announcement came just hours after the U.S. military reported it had shot down a separate Iranian missile barrage aimed at American forces in the region [206478]. No casualties were immediately reported from the Jordanian interceptions [206478].
The Iran-backed Houthi group fired on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, escalating tensions further [202609][202923]. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree named the vessels as *Encelia* and *Layla*, stating they were attacked for violating a blockade declared by the Houthi armed forces [202609]. The attacks directly target Saudi oil infrastructure [202609]. This came as U.S. President Donald Trump repeated a warning to Iran that any further attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with U.S. strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants [202923].
Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities on Tuesday, including near the Bushehr nuclear plant, as a widening wave of U.S. strikes targeted southern Iran [202463]. One of the strikes hit a power station close to the plant, Iran’s main nuclear facility [202463]. The latest U.S. strikes also hit tunnels, bridges, and other infrastructure further inland from the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting a shift in military strategy [203089].