00:00The U.S. military said on Tuesday that it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabia's
00:06forces to strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
00:09In its announcement, the U.S. said that militias had launched a barrage of drone attacks in recent days and
00:15warned Iran to halt its attacks.
00:17Riyadh confirmed intercepting multiple drones, while Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation after a similar attack took
00:25place on Monday.
00:25The strikes on Iraq killed at least 20 members of a former paramilitary alliance that includes pro-Iran groups, the
00:32alliance said, as they have denied any role in drone attacks, calling the Saudi claims fabrications.
00:38Tensions expanded across key maritime routes as Houthi militants claimed responsibility for targeting a Saudi oil tanker and blockading the
00:46Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
00:48This risks further disruption beyond the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil flows.
00:53The escalation coincides with growing political and financial pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump as military costs continue to
01:01rise in Washington.
