Saudi Arabia and the US have carried out strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict. US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes were against “Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure”. “The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response,” the Centcom statement said. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia said its military had intercepted and destroyed drones targeting petroleum facilities in the country’s eastern region. At least 624 US military service members have been wounded since Trump ordered strikes against Iran in February, according to recent Pentagon data.