U.S. says it thwarted Iranian missile attack on troops in Middle East

U.S. and Saudi Arabian military forces conducted joint strikes on "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq Tuesday in retaliation for Iranian drone attacks in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday night.

U.S. and Saudi fighter jets "struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq," according to a statement from CENTCOM.

CENTCOM said the strikes were in response to more than 30 aerial drone attacks that occurred over the past 72 hours that were conducted at the direction of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Earlier Tuesday, CENTCOM said Iran had launched a surprise ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East. CENTCOM said that all of Iran's missiles were intercepted.

Per CENTCOM, between February and April of this year, there were more than 600 attempted attacks on U.S. citizens and facilities by Iran-aligned terrorist militias in Iraq.

"The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response," CENTCOM said.

Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in the Middle East in what U.S. Central Command described as an "attempted surprise attack."

CENTCOM said the missiles were launched at 5:45 p.m. ET Tuesday by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. They were all "successfully intercepted," according to CENTCOM.

"U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness," CENTCOM said in its statement.

Ukraine and Iran's foreign ministers spoke by phone on Tuesday, Kyiv said, adding it wants to avoid an "escalation" after a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on his X account that he had a "frank conversation" with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.

"Diplomacy is about direct conversation, even when it's difficult. I stressed that our goal is to avoid unnecessary escalation," Sybiha wrote.

Iran on Monday warned of "unforeseen consequences" after the attack last week that killed one sailor and wounded several others.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said Kyiv had carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea against vessels carrying military cargo involving Iran.

Sybiha said he reiterated to Araghchi that "all of Ukraine's actions are aimed solely at defending our country from Russian aggression and never intended to target civilian vessels or people."

The reinstated U.S. blockade on Iranian ports has now stopped 18 ships from exiting or entering Iranian ports, according to U.S. Central Command.

Eighteen ships is an increase by one vessel from yest