The Middle East moved closer to a broader regional confrontation on Wednesday as Iran launched a failed ballistic missile attack on US forces, while the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces successfully intercepted multiple ballistic missiles fired by Iran in what it described as an "attempted surprise attack" against US military personnel stationed in the Middle East.

"At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East," CENTCOM said in a statement posted on social media. "All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. US forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness."

CENTCOM did not disclose the exact location of the intended target.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had fired ballistic missiles at a US military air base and a US Central Command facility in Jordan. Iranian state media described the strike as retaliation against recent US actions targeting Iranian interests.

The attempted missile strike came barely a day after President Trump announced that the US had suspended its bombing campaign against Iran, saying there had been "good talks" with Tehran while warning that military operations could resume if diplomacy failed. Tehran, however, denied it was preparing to restart negotiations with Washington.

Even as diplomatic efforts appeared to gather momentum, military activity intensified elsewhere in the region.

Joint US-Saudi strikes

CENTCOM announced that US and Saudi Arabian fighter aircraft had conducted coordinated precision strikes against Iran-backed militias operating in eastern Iraq. According to the US military, the operation targeted logistics hubs and weapons facilities used by groups directed by the IRGC to attack US personnel and Saudi energy infrastructure.

"US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours," CENTCOM said.

Saudi Arabia confirmed its participation, describing the operation as "limited, targeted strikes" against Iran-backed militias responsible for attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities. Earlier on Wednesday, Riyadh said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraq towards oil installations in the country's Eastern Province.

The joint operation marked one of the clearest examples of direct US-Saudi military coordination against Iran-backed groups since the latest regional crisis began. Saudi Arabia has largely sought to avoid being drawn directly into the confrontation, making its participation particularly significant.

The strikes prompted swift condemnation from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella organisation that forms part of Iraq's official security apparatus but includes several powerful Iran-aligned Shiite militias.

The PMF said a number of its bases across Iraq had been hit, resulting in casualties and damage to buildings.

"We consider this targeting to be a highly dangerous escalation, a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and an attack on its official security institutions," the organisation said.

Adding to the diplomatic activity, President Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. Netanyahu described the meeting as one of their most productive discussions, saying the two leaders had closely coordinated their positions on Iran and wider regional security challenges.