Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq attacked by drones despite lull in US-Iran fighting

Drone attacks struck Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq on Monday, marking a renewed escalation in tensions across the Middle East despite a recent lull in U.S.-Iran fighting. The incidents occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump suspended a two-week air campaign against Iran over the weekend, citing advice from military leaders that the strategy had achieved its objectives. Israeli forces intercepted two drones near the Jordan border, close to the Dead Sea, stating that the devices did not enter Israeli territory. The origins of these drones remain under investigation. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry confirmed it had shot down multiple drones targeting petroleum installations, including some in the eastern province and others in Riyadh. According to the ministry, these attacks originated from Iraq and were launched by Iran-backed militias. Saudi Arabia warned it retained the right to retaliate against such threats. Satellite images shared online suggested damage to Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq oil processing plant, located in the eastern part of the country. Additional footage depicted a substantial column of smoke rising from the site, allegedly due to the drone strikes. These developments come amid heightened concerns over the stability of the region’s critical energy infrastructure. In a separate development, Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen reportedly targeted transit points transporting oil toward Saudi Arabia’s primary Red Sea oil terminal in Yanbu. This action was described as a retaliatory measure against alleged Saudi drone intrusions into Yemeni airspace. While Riyadh did not immediately address these claims, the situation reflects ongoing hostilities between the two nations, which have intensified following the Houthi announcement of a blockade on Saudi Arabia’s oil operations in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia responded by conducting airstrikes on what it described as Houthi military facilities in Yemen’s Hodeidah port, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding maritime traffic. This exchange marks the first major confrontation between the two sides in years, potentially undermining a fragile 2022 truce that had persisted despite its expiration date. Jordan reported that its military successfully intercepted two drones, while Iraqi security sources indicated a series of drone attacks on camps accommodating Iranian opposition Kurdish forces in northern Iraq. Neither Jordanian nor Iraqi authorities specified the origins of these drones. These attacks coincide with the locations where four U.S. service members lost their lives during the preceding two-week air campaign. The U.S. and Israel initiated a joint bombing operation on Iran on February 28, aiming to disrupt the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks throughout the region and imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil transportation. Hezbollah supported Iran by engaging in combat against Israel. A temporary cessation of hostilities began on April 8, and recently, the U.S. and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding regarding peace discussions. However, Israel was not included in either the agreement or the subsequent negotiations. The U.S. has since conducted further attacks on Iran in reaction to the Islamic Republic’s continued assaults on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Following thirteen consecutive nights of aerial bombardment, Trump ordered the termination of the campaign. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations described the situation as complex and evolving, indicating that the geopolitical landscape remains fluid and unpredictable.