Middle East Conflict Escalates as Iran Targets American Forces

The Middle East conflict has escalated further as Iran launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the region. The US and Saudi Arabia have partnered to strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. A drone attack on a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta caused a fire that spread to another vessel, but no casualties were reported.

US President Donald Trump vowed to retaliate against Iran for the overnight attack, saying 'So it's our turn.' He added that Washington would see if there was an agreement with Iran at some point, 'but we're going to hit them very hard.'

The joint US-Saudi attacks mark the first time Riyadh has publicly joined strikes alongside Washington. Oil prices surged on Wednesday in one of the sharpest spikes of the five-month war, with Brent crude futures rising more than 8% to push the benchmark above $90 a barrel.