US President Donald Trump has made strong remarks, threatening force against Iran in response to recent attacks in the Middle East. Following missile strikes by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Trump stated that the US would retaliate aggressively. The IRGC claimed responsibility for targeting a US base in Jordan, but all missiles were intercepted. The incident occurred after a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump in Washington. The US Central Command confirmed the attack originated from Iran, with all missiles being shot down.
A joint US-Saudi operation launched airstrikes in Iraq, targeting pro-Iranian militia in seven provinces. This action resulted in casualties among the fighters, escalating tensions in the region. The US military stated the strikes were a response to numerous attacks by pro-Iranian groups in Iraq. The Central Command reported targeting terrorist sites in eastern Iraq, retaliating against Iran-aligned militants responsible for drone attacks.
The operation led to casualties within the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces, a Shia group with ties to past conflicts involving the UK and US. These forces have been utilized by Iran against US interests. In a separate development, two Palestinians were killed and many injured in Gaza over 24 hours, adding to the toll of casualties in the region. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East trace back to the 2022 October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, triggering a series of retaliatory actions across the region involving Hezbollah and Iran.
