Saudi Arabia Joins US Military Strikes Against Iran-Backed Proxies

The US-Iran conflict has entered a new phase as Saudi Arabia joins military escalations against Tehran-backed proxies, marking a significant escalation in the already tense standoff. Despite relative calm over several days, both sides carried out military strikes in the last 24 hours, putting the region on high alert for a return to all-out war.

President Donald Trump and his allies have argued that Iran is begging to return to the negotiating table, but Iran's deputy foreign minister said Tuesday that his country has made no requests to restart diplomatic talks in over two weeks. In contrast, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday, conveying Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's view that Iran has lost leverage in Syria and Lebanon but is still providing support to the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq.

The US-Saudi strikes followed drone attacks on the kingdom, complicating a conflict that now involves nearly every country in the region. The Saudi decision to join the US attacks against Iraqi militias was meant to send a message to Iran that it wouldn't tolerate Iran or its proxies targeting Saudi oil infrastructure and other critical assets.

The stakes for continued US military action have never been higher, with the conflict jolting the world economy just months before critical midterm elections in November. The renewed fighting has also killed and injured more American troops, raising concerns about the burn rate of critical missile interceptors and the potential impact on military operations in Iran.