Central Command Says US Stopped Iran 'Surprise Attack'

The US military said it knocked down an Iranian ballistic missile attack against American forces in the Middle East on Tuesday, shattering a brief pause in the fighting as mediators tried to get both sides back to negotiations. "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack," US Central Command said on X. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, Central Command said, adding that US forces "remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness."

The United States and Iran had experienced a period of calm, during which neither announced attacks for days following weeks of escalation over the Strait of Hormuz, the AP reports. There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the US military statement or the strikes.

• Central Command also said American and Saudi forces struck sites used by Iran-backed militias in Iraq to carry out attacks in recent days. "US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours," Central Command said on X.
• Saudi Arabia said earlier on Tuesday that it shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for a second day, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their self-styled blockade of the kingdom.
• The kingdom's Defense Ministry said in a statement that air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones that had attempted to target petroleum facilities in the nation's eastern region. It said the attacks were "once again launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-affiliated terrorist militias."
• The ministry later confirmed that it had conducted strikes against militia targets in Iraq in coordination with Central Command, Al Jazeera reports. A spokesman cited Saudi Arabia's "inherent right to defend itself," adding that while the kingdom "does not seek escalation," it "will respond to any aggression it is subjected to."