US and Saudi Arabia Expand Strikes Against Iran-Linked Militias

The operation targeted the Popular Mobilisation Forces, an Iraqi paramilitary network, in response to drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. The strikes drew immediate backlash, with televised funerals and anti-American protests erupting across Iraq. For Baghdad, which balances ties with both Tehran and Washington, the violence threatens to trigger a destabilizing domestic crisis.

Simultaneously, Tehran rejected an Omani proposal for joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining its claim to primary control over the maritime chokepoint. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have since claimed responsibility for missile strikes on U.S. installations in Jordan, further complicating the landscape. The volatility hit global markets instantly, pushing Brent crude up 4.6% to nearly $88 per barrel.

Saudi Arabia’s new, assertive posture comes as it faces mounting pressure from the Houthi movement in Yemen, which has intensified threats against Saudi oil exports. By expanding the campaign to include Tehran’s proxy network, the U.S. and its partners have effectively widened the theater of war. With diplomatic efforts over the Strait of Hormuz stalled and retaliatory cycles accelerating across Iraq and the Red Sea, the prospect of a broader regional conflagration remains high.