US and Saudi Arabia Strike Iran-Backed Groups in Iraq, Escalating Conflict

The conflict in the Middle East escalated on July 29 as the US and Saudi Arabia launched strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq, targeting sites used to direct drone attacks. This move comes just hours after the US military reported that its air defenses had intercepted a surprise Iranian attack on US troops in the region.

Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said it destroyed several drones targeting oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province, with Iran-backed militias launching the attacks from Iraqi territory.

The US and Saudi Arabia claimed they hit multiple sites across eastern Iraq used by Iran to direct drone attacks. However, this move was met with criticism from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which said a number of its official headquarters were attacked by US and Saudi forces, resulting in several deaths and injuries.

Oil prices surged over $3 per barrel on Wednesday after the strikes, as concerns grew that the conflict may escalate further. The situation remains tense, with Iran warning that blaming it for attacks on US interests was a 'major miscalculation.'