Saudi Arabia announced that it carried out “limited and targeted strikes” against Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq in coordination with the United States, in response to drone attacks targeting the kingdom’s oil facilities.

At the same time, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it successfully intercepted all ballistic missiles launched by Iran at U.S. military bases in the Middle East. The renewed escalation pushed global oil prices higher.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense said that, working alongside U.S. forces, it conducted limited, precision strikes against Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq.

According to the ministry, the raids targeted supply facilities and weapons depots linked to attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.

In a separate statement, CENTCOM said U.S. and Saudi warplanes struck multiple terrorist supply and weapons facilities in eastern Iraq in response to repeated drone attacks.

Saudi Arabia’s First Military Response in Iraq

Earlier, Riyadh announced that its air defense forces had intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraq toward oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense stressed that the kingdom “does not seek escalation but will respond to any attack against it.”

It marks the first time since the outbreak of the U.S.–Iran conflict that Saudi Arabia has officially acknowledged carrying out military strikes inside Iraq.

Although Saudi Arabia has repeatedly blamed Iran for attacks against its territory during the conflict, it had until now refrained from responding militarily.

CENTCOM Says Iranian Missile Attack Was Intercepted

Hours later, CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces had thwarted what it described as a “surprise attack” by Iran against American bases in the Middle East.

According to the statement, at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time (12:45 a.m. Greece time), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iranian territory, but all were successfully intercepted.

A U.S. official told CNN that initial assessments indicated up to four ballistic missiles had been fired.

The attack came about a day after President Donald Trump announced that the United States had suspended strikes against Iran, saying he believed Tehran wanted to resume negotiations.

However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei rejected that claim, stating that “there are currently no negotiations with the United States.”

Oil Prices Jump 5%

The latest escalation in the Middle East triggered an immediate reaction in global energy markets.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 1.13% to $83 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 4.11%, also reaching $83 per barrel.

Overall, oil prices gained roughly 5%, recovering part of Monday’s sharp losses, when prices had fallen about 8% after the Trump administration announced it was suspending plans for further military escalation against Iran.