A five-day pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran has shattered following a surprise Iranian ballistic missile attack on U.S. military installations in Jordan. The escalation has quickly expanded, drawing Saudi Arabia directly into the conflict through joint airstrikes with the U.S. against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
The ballistic missile strikes occurred early Wednesday, corresponding to Tuesday evening in the United States. According to Iranian sources, one of the targeted facilities on the Jordanian bases was a military command and control center. The U.S. military's Central Command (CENTCOM) characterized the bombardment as a surprise attack. In response, President Trump told Fox News in strongly worded terms that the U.S. would retaliate severely, promising to give Iran a beating. The region is now bracing for further military escalation.
Simultaneously, the conflict has spilled over into Iraq, where the U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched coordinated airstrikes. Saudi Arabia's direct participation marks a significant departure from its typical role in regional conflicts. Riyadh’s involvement was driven by retaliation for prior attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, which the kingdom blames on Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. The joint operation involved a wave of airstrikes hitting at least seven different locations. Militia sources reported that the strikes killed at least 20 fighters. Iranian semiofficial media later confirmed that the dead included four members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
This military action has placed the newly appointed Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, in an extraordinarily difficult position. Al-Zaidi, a businessman and political outsider who took office just two months ago, was in Washington for official meetings only two weeks prior. Unlike traditional political figures, al-Zaidi lacks the leverage to command the respect or obedience of powerful militia leaders.
The relationship between these militias and the Iraqi state is complex. Many of these groups are officially integrated into the Iraqi security forces and are on the government payroll. This integration traces back to the security vacuum created after the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, which allowed Iran and its aligned groups to become deeply embedded in both the security apparatus and the political landscape of the country. While successive U.S. administrations have pressured Baghdad to rein in these Iranian-affiliated forces, doing so remains a monumental challenge for any Iraqi leader.
Al-Zaidi has stated that he does not want Iraq to be used as a launching pad for regional attacks, yet he possesses little actual authority to prevent it. He is politically constrained by numerous Iraqi factions and political parties that maintain close alliances with Tehran.
Following the airstrikes, public anger in Iraq has intensified. Funerals were held for the slain fighters, where an unidentified group was recorded chanting in a non-English language, while crowds of supporters carrying flags chanted 'death to America' and 'death to traitors.' Meanwhile, Iraqi government officials have formally condemned the U.S. and Saudi strikes, labeling them a direct infringement on the nation's sovereignty.
Compounding the political tension, President Trump claimed in a Fox News interview that he had coordinated the strikes against the Shia militias with the Iraqi government. However, observers suggest such coordination is highly unlikely, as cooperating with foreign powers to bomb state-sanctioned Iraqi forces would constitute political suicide and pose a direct threat to the prime minister's life.
The diplomatic and security repercussions of the strikes are already unfolding. Prime Prime Minister al-Zaidi has reportedly canceled an upcoming scheduled trip to Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq—an umbrella coalition of Iranian-backed militia groups—has issued an ultimatum. The coalition has set a deadline for next Thursday for the Iraqi government to formally respond to what they have termed 'U.S.-Saudi aggression.'
SUMMERS: Jane, let's start there with Jordan, where you are. Tell us what happened there today.
SUMMERS: So, Jane, tell us then, what is happening in Iraq now?
