Iran live updates: US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq, CENTCOM says

The Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday posted a statement to X condemning what it called "reprehensible drone attacks carried out against the Kingdom by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, and reaffirming the Kingdom's determination to deter the perpetrators and its right to respond."

The statement said that the joint U.S.-Saudi strikes "were undertaken in the exercise." The ministry added that Riyadh "does not seek escalation," but "should it be subjected to any further attacks, it will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its citizens and national assets."

The ministry posted the statement hours after U.S. and Saudi forces launched airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. The strikes were a response to three days of attacks on Saudi energy sites launched from inside Iraq.

The Saudi ministry said it was "exerting every effort to help de-escalate tensions in the region in a manner that preserves its security and stability."

"These Iran-backed terrorist militias chose a reckless path of escalation, in blatant violation of international law, in disregard of the obligations of Islamic brotherhood, including adherence to the principles of good neighborliness," it added.

-ABC News' Clark Bentson

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia carried out “precision strikes” inside Iraq targeting Iran-backed proxy groups, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday, a move that comes in response to the attacks on Saudi energy sites from inside Iraq over the last three days.

"U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours," CENTCOM said in a statement.

The strikes were carried out against "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure," CENTCOM said.

The U.S. intercepted an "attempted surprise attack" on U.S. forces in the Middle East on Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command.

"At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East," CENTCOM said in a statement. "All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness."

CENTCOM did not identify the exact location of the targeted U.S. forces.

The recent U.S. attacks on Iran caused "severe damage" to civilian infrastructure across Iran, including airports, bridges, railways and energy facilities, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said during a press briefing Tuesday.

Mohajerani also said more than 350 Iranian government employees had been killed. Twelve bridges and two tunnels have also been damaged, she said.

"The recent attacks have inflicted severe damage on civilian infrastructure across the region. Tourism businesses have suffered crippling losses. In Bushehr, the Meteorological Center, a purely civilian facility dedicated solely to weather forecasting, has been almost entirely razed, with virtually nothing left standing," Mohajerani said.

Adding, "The Bushehr Airport has likewise been rendered completely inoperable and will require total reconstruction. Furthermore, the maritime control tower at Chabahar has been destroyed."