Key Facts Saudi Arabia openly joined U.S. forces in striking Iran-backed militias in Iraq, marking a significant expansion of the war. The strikes followed drone attacks against Saudi oil facilities and renewed Iranian missile attacks on U.S. forces in Jordan. The operation followed more than 30 reported drone attacks or attempted attacks against U.S. forces and Saudi targets over several days. Saudi officials said the military response followed drone attacks launched from Iraq against oil facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. What began as a confrontation centered on Iran now threatens to ignite overlapping fronts across Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the Gulf.