US, Saudis strike Iran-backed sites in Iraq as Netanyahu praises Trump meeting

The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out a series of precision strikes across eastern Iraq on Tuesday, targeting Iran-aligned militant groups that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says were directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure. CENTCOM also said on Tuesday night that the IRGC launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on American bases in the Middle East. "All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness," per the command. According to CENTCOM, more than 600 attempted attacks against U.S. citizens and facilities were recorded from February to April in Iraq. Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of International Relations at the City College of New York, told Newsweek that "There's nothing in place that qualifies as a ceasefire, so be it the US-Saudi strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, or Iran's targeting on Tuesday of the Muwaffaq Salti air base in Jordan, which the US uses, no one should be surprised. Indeed, we should expect more such incidents." By Anna Commander.