NewzUS and Saudi Arabian forces said they struck Iran-backed militants in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for recent attacks, following a short pause in Iran war hostilities. The combined air operation came as President Donald Trump met with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington for their first in-person talks since the Middle East war began in late February. Crude oil prices leapt more than four percent as the fresh Middle East flare-up revived fears over global supplies usually shipped through the pivotal Strait of Hormuz.
Retaliatory strikes by US and Saudi fighter planes hit logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq belonging to “Iran-aligned terrorists”, the US military said. Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said the “terrorist militias loyal to Iran” were linked to attacks on the kingdom’s oil facilities. A days-long pause in hostilities ended late Tuesday, when US forces reported intercepting missiles launched by Iran at American bases in the Gulf.
– ‘Full control’ – Washington had said the cessation in fighting was aimed at kickstarting a new round of negotiations, including over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s IRGC said Wednesday it attacked and stopped three tankers in the strait, maintaining it has “full control” of the waterway. Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday for closed-door talks that the administration described as “positive and productive”.
The discussions lasted for about an hour and a half and took place while Netanyahu and Trump seek to patch over public disagreements on the war. Netanyahu said in a video message after the meeting that it was “one of the best conversations I’ve ever had with the president of the United States” and that it touched on “our common goal: ensuring that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.” Trump said only that the pair had a “very good meeting.” Israel has not taken part in the recent round of hostilities between the United States and Iran, which flared earlier this month as an April ceasefire collapsed. – ‘Very good meeting’ – Trump and Netanyahu had been expected to discuss the implementation of a US-sponsored framework deal signed by Israel and Lebanon last month, whose application on the ground has been challenging.
The talks were also expected to touch on Gaza, as diplomatic efforts to kick-start the devastated Palestinian territory’s reconstruction are at a standstill.… Iran has also struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and rejected Oman’s proposal on managing the waterway.
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