West Asia war LIVE: U.S. military says American and Saudi forces struck sites used by Iran-backed militias in Iraq

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on while hosting a reception for the reigning Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the Rose Garden at the White House, Washington, D.C., U.S., July 23, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein | Photo Credit: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN American and Saudi forces struck sites used by Iran-backed militias in Iraq to carry out attacks in recent days, the U.S. military said Tuesday (July 28, 2026).Also Read | Have the Houthis blocked the Red Sea to marine traffic? Explained“US 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,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement, using an acronym for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.Also Read | Donald Trump’s Iran conundrumIt said the Revolutionary Guard “and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response.” Saudi Arabia said earlier Tuesday (July 28) that it, for a second day, shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, which had attempted to target petroleum facilities in the nation’s eastern region.Follow for live updatesJuly 29, 2026 08:01 Iran Guards say halted 3 oil tankers in Hormuz: mediaIran’s Revolutionary Guards said they struck and halted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported Wednesday, despite a lull in fighting between the Washington and Tehran.The Guards’ navy said “three violating oil tankers, which ignored our warnings and continued sailing an unsafe and illegal route, were struck and brought to a halt”, the Tasnim News agency reported.-AFPJuly 29, 2026 07:32 Oil price up more than 3% after Iran attacksOil prices jumped more than 3% in early Asian trade on Wednesday after the U.S. military said it had intercepted multiple missiles launched by Iran.At around 0015 GMT, U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 3.67% at $82.17 a barrel, while North Sea Brent crude had gained 3.39% to $86.94.-AFPJuly 29, 2026 07:03 U.S., Saudi forces strike Iran-backed 'terrorists' in IraqU.S. and Saudi warplanes carried out strikes on Tuesday (July 28) against Iran-backed militants in Iraq who launched more than two dozen drone attacks in recent days, the U.S. military said.The strikes targeted “Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.-AFP Published - July 29, 2026 07:03 am IST