Riyadh(National Times)- US and Saudi Arabian forces said they struck \u201cIran-aligned terrorists\u201d in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for recent attacks, following a short pause in Iran war hostilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The combined air operation came as President Donald Trump met with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington for their first in-person talks since the Middle East war began in late February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crude oil prices leapt more than four per cent as the fresh Middle East flare-up revived fears over global supplies usually shipped through the pivotal Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US military said US and Saudi forces carried out precision strikes against \u201cIran-aligned terrorists\u201d the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) \u201cdirected to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUS 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saudi Arabia\u2019s defence ministry said the \u201cterrorist militias loyal to Iran\u201d were linked to attacks on the kingdom\u2019s oil facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A days-long pause in hostilities ended late Tuesday, when US forces reported intercepting missiles launched by Iran at American bases in the Gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Full control\u2019
Washington had said the cessation in fighting was aimed at kickstarting a new round of negotiations, including over the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran\u2019s IRGC said on Wednesday it attacked and stopped three tankers in the strait, maintaining it has \u201cfull control\u201d of the waterway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday for closed-door talks that the administration described as \u201cpositive and productive\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The discussions lasted for about an hour and a half and took place while Netanyahu and Trump seek to patch over public disagreements on the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netanyahu said in a video message after the meeting that it was \u201cone of the best conversations I\u2019ve ever had with the president of the United States\u201d and that it touched on \u201cour common goal: ensuring that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump said only that the pair had a \u201cvery good meeting\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israel has not taken part in the recent round of hostilities between the United States and Iran, which flared earlier this month as an April ceasefire collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Very good meeting\u2019
Trump and Netanyahu had been expected to discuss the implementation of a US-sponsored framework deal signed by Israel and Lebanon last month, whose application on the ground has been challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The talks were also expected to touch on Gaza, as diplomatic efforts to kick-start the devastated Palestinian territory\u2019s reconstruction are at a standstill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was not immediately clear on Wednesday whether the leaders discussed those issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHad a very good meeting!\u201d Trump wrote on social media, alongside photos of himself with Netanyahu in the Oval Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObviously, many important subjects were discussed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly three years after the war between Israel and Hamas broke out, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, and Israel continues to regularly target people the military says are militants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danny Danon, Israel\u2019s ambassador to the United Nations, said on Tuesday that Netanyahu\u2019s visit came at a \u201ccritical time for the Middle East,\u201d with Iran continuing \u201cto choose terrorism over negotiations\u201d and blocking the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tankers struck in Hormuz
Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a hurdle to any peaceful resolution to the Mideast war, and Iran insists on managing the crucial conduit for oil and gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its powerful Revolutionary Guards have been stopping vessels trying to transit the trade route, saying on Wednesday it struck three oil tankers \u201cwhich ignored our warnings and continued sailing an unsafe and illegal route\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tehran said earlier this week that it had held talks with Oman, which also borders the strait, on \u201ccommon principles and operational mechanisms\u201d to ensure the safe passage of shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In June, Muscat and Tehran said they would discuss imposing service fees in the waterway, a move Washington opposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Oman also angered Iran after saying vessels could transit the Hormuz strait via its waters, with Tehran responding by attacking ships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Riyadh(National Times)- US and Saudi Arabian forces said they struck \u201cIran-aligned terrorists\u201d in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for recent attacks, following a short pause in Iran war hostilities. The combined air operation came as President Donald Trump met with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington for their first in-person talks since the Middle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":130287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n