President Trump and Saudi Arabia Launch Joint Strikes Against Iranian-Backed Militias in Iraq
The administration announced a joint military operation with Saudi Arabia to strike multiple logistics and weapons sites used by Iranian-backed militias in eastern Iraq. This move follows a series of drone attacks by pro-Iranian forces targeting Saudi oil infrastructure, signaling a shift toward more active military engagement from the kingdom. President Trump has maintained a dual strategy of utilizing military threats and pursuing diplomatic negotiations with Iran. While the administration is currently not actively pursuing a new diplomatic track, the conflict has caused global oil prices to spike and raised concerns regarding the depletion of U.S. munitions stockpiles. Saudi Arabia, facing pressure from the Houthis in Yemen and Iranian drones from Iraq, has moved beyond its previous policy of restraint. The kingdom's defense minister met with President Trump to convey that while Iran has lost leverage in Syria and Lebanon, it remains a powerful adversary. The strikes serve as a message that Saudi Arabia will no longer tolerate Iranian proxies targeting its critical energy infrastructure.