US, Saudi Strikes Hit Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq: American and Saudi military forces have launched retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq. CENTCOM stated that these US-Saudi airstrikes were in response to recent Iranian-backed militias in Iraq striking American bases and Saudi energy infrastructure. Saudi defense officials claim that the Kingdom exercised its right of self-defense by responding to the Iranian attacks in the manner the Kingdom did. At the time, neither side had exchanged military strikes for three days following nearly two weeks of continuous attacks. That temporary lull followed 13 straight nights of American bombing campaigns targeting Iranian military infrastructure, weapons facilities, and missile sites.