The US military said it intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile attack against American forces in the Middle East, breaking a brief pause in fighting as mediators sought to resume negotiations. Washington described the barrage as an attempted surprise attack by Tehran, according to The Guardian. A US official told Axios that Iran's target was a US base in Jordan.
In a coordinated operation, US and Saudi forces struck sites in Iraq that Iran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days, The Guardian reported. The flare-up of hostilities also included claimed Iranian attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which contributed to a spike in global oil prices.
NDTV World confirmed the US military's account of the missile defense operation. The developments come amid ongoing efforts by mediators to de-escalate tensions between the US and Iran, though the latest exchanges have renewed fears of a broader conflict.
The US has not reported any casualties from the missile attack. The strikes in Iraq targeted positions used by Tehran-aligned groups to harass US forces stationed in the region.