“The strikes aimed to further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighbouring Gulf countries,” it said. View image in fullscreen Screengrab from a video showing rescuers clearing rubble to search for victims after a strike in Qeshm, Iran. The renewed strikes came after the US partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Iran-backed militias in neighbouring Iraq on Wednesday, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. It was the first time Egypt has been attacked since the Iran war started in late February and signalled a potential widening of the conflict. The rebels said the attack was in response to a Saudi drone they said had breached Yemen’s airspace.