Saudi Arabia Joins US Military Escalations Against Iranian Proxies

The US-Iran conflict has entered a new phase as Saudi Arabia joins military escalations against Tehran-backed proxies. Despite relative calm in recent days, both sides have carried out strikes in the last 24 hours that risk a return to all-out war.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, conveying the view of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Iran has lost leverage in Syria and Lebanon but still provides support to militias in Iraq and Yemen.

The US military launched a 'powerful response' to Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East, with strikes targeting logistics and weapons sites used by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. The Saudi decision to join these attacks was meant to send a message to Iran that it wouldn't tolerate its proxies targeting the Saudi oil industry.

The conflict has jolted the world economy just months before critical midterm elections in November, with growing concerns about the burn rate of critical missile interceptors and the impact on military operations. The US administration does not seem to have a strategy to resume negotiations with Iran over ending the conflict.