Iran resumes missile attacks as U.S. and Saudis strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq

The article details a significant escalation of conflict in West Asia, with Iran launching missile attacks on U.S. forces in Jordan, while the U.S. and Saudi Arabia conducted strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters. This flare-up, following a period of calm, raises concerns about a return to all-out war and its impact on the global economy. Saudi Arabia accused Iraqi militias and Houthi rebels (Yemen) of drone attacks on its oil facilities, causing damage and spiking oil prices. Mediation efforts have stalled, and Iran has rejected proposals for managing the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which it has effectively closed, further threatening global energy supplies. The conflict also involves the Bab el-Mandeb strait, another vital trade route.