Naija, make una hear wetin dey happen for Middle East. United States and Saudi Arabia don carry out joint strikes against Iran-backed militias for Iraq. According to US Central Command, di strikes na against “Iran-aligned terrorists” wey di Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) direct to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Iraq paramilitary group Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) wey get many Iran-backed Shia militias tok say at least 20 of their members don die for di US-Saudi strikes on their bases. Dis one come just hours after Centcom say Iran launch missiles at US forces for Middle East, wey dem call “attempted surprise attack”. All di missiles dem intercept.
IRGC claim say dem target US air base and command centre for Jordan as response to “acts of aggression of American child-killing army”. Dem also say naval forces strike three oil tankers for Strait of Hormuz because dem ignore warnings and sail for wetin dem call “unsafe and illegal route”.
When Fox News ask US President Donald Trump about di Iranian attack on Jordan, Trump use strong word say US forces go be “hitting them hard” and “they go get a beating”.
Centcom explain say di joint US-Saudi strikes hit “multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq” as strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks for di last 72 hours. Dem call di drone attacks “unwarranted” but say dem fail. Dem warn say IRGC and im terrorist proxies must stop these attacks to avoid more US military response.
For Saudi side, di defence ministry spokesman Maj-Gen Turki al-Maliki accuse “Iran-backed terrorist militias” of launching drones from Iraqi territory at oil facilities for Eastern and Riyadh regions on Monday and Tuesday. He say Saudi Arabia, under right to self-defence, respond by conducting strikes against specific targets of those militias. He add say Saudi no dey seek escalation but go respond decisively to any aggression.
PMF tok for statement Wednesday morning say at least 20 of dia fighters don die and 32 others wound for US-Saudi strikes on many of dia headquarters for Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala and Diyala provinces. One official tell AFP say di strikes for Nineveh and Diyala na di deadliest.
PMF condemn wetin dem call “di treacherous terrorist attacks” as serious escalation and violation of Iraq sovereignty, targeting im official security institutions. PMF na umbrella organisation of mostly Shia Muslim militias wey don integrate into Iraqi armed forces. E include Iran-backed groups wey be part of network wey Tehran use to advance im interests across Middle East for years. Those militias don attack US personnel and interests for Iraq before, to force remaining US troops comot.
Iraq presidency denounce di bombing of PMF bases as unacceptable attack and blatant violation of Iraq sovereignty, targeting im official institutions. But Trump tell Fox News say di strikes dey co-ordinated with Iraqi government. Iran foreign ministry also condemn di strikes as gross violation of international law and claim say dem be part of US-Israeli strategy to expand war for Middle East. Dem warn say US and im accomplices go dey responsible for any dangerous consequences.
Saudi Arabia, wey see imself as leading Sunni Muslim power, and Iran, di largest Shia Muslim country, don dey struggle for regional dominance for decades. Di rivalry worsen for recent years through proxy conflicts for Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Di two countries restore diplomatic ties for 2023, but Saudi dey vex for repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks on im territory during Iran war, wey target US military facilities and energy infrastructure.
Yemen Iran-backed Houthi movement also begin launch attacks on Saudi tankers for Red Sea and Saudi oil facilities early dis month, saying dem dey retaliate for wetin dem claim be Saudi air strikes on Sanaa airport.
Dis reignited hostilities between US and Iran come two days after President Trump talk about “very friendly negotiations” to resolve dispute over Strait of Hormuz. At dat time, di two sides don stop strikes for three days. Di lull follow 13 consecutive nights of bombing by US, wey say dem target Iranian weapons and military sites to reduce Iran ability to attack commercial vessels for di strait. Scores of people report die for di strikes. Iran respond to US attacks by launching missiles and drones at US military assets for neighbouring Arab states. Four US service personnel die for Jordan and Iraq.
Access and control of Strait of Hormuz remain key sticking point for negotiations between US and Iran, wey Iranian officials deny dey happen. Oil prices rise on Wednesday because of concerns say di escalation fit disrupt energy shipments through di strait, wey don close since di start of US and Israel war with Iran at end of February. Di latest strikes come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dey visit Washington, meet Trump for White House, and attend funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, wey be prominent Iran hawk.
