US and Saudi Strikes Hit Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq After Brief Pause

The United States and Saudi Arabia launched strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq on Wednesday, shattering a brief pause in fighting. The US Central Command said its forces worked with Saudi Arabia's forces to strike sites used by Tehran-backed militias to launch attacks.

Jordan's air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Wednesday, the country's military said. The missiles were fired at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and the headquarters of the US military's Central Command in Jordan.

The strikes came after a period of calm during which neither side announced attacks for about three days following weeks of escalation over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a Persian Gulf waterway through which 20% of the world's traded oil normally flows.