Regional tensions escalated overnight as Jordan announced it had intercepted and destroyed five Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at U.S. military forces stationed in the kingdom. The strikes came after a brief lull in direct fighting between Iran and the United States and followed last week’s attacks in Jordan that killed American service members. Washington said the intercepted missiles were intended to target U.S. personnel.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Iranian-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces reported that several of their headquarters were struck in coordinated U.S. and Saudi airstrikes. The attacks reportedly killed several people, wounded others, and caused significant infrastructure damage. Both Washington and Riyadh confirmed the operation, describing it as retaliation for recent Iranian Revolutionary Guard-directed attacks against U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure. While Iran had largely refrained from launching attacks directly from its own territory since the ceasefire declared on Friday, relying instead on proxy forces in Iraq and Yemen, the latest missile launches suggest that pause may be ending.
Against this backdrop of renewed regional conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington for his first in-person meeting with President Donald Trump since the Iran war began in late February. Following approximately 90 minutes of closed-door discussions in the Oval Office, Netanyahu described the meeting as “excellent” and “one of the best we’ve ever had,” while the White House characterized the talks as productive and positive.
Unlike previous high-profile meetings between the two leaders, this visit was notably low-key. Reporters were excluded from the Oval Office, Netanyahu entered through a side entrance, and no joint press conference was held. The meeting marked the seventh between Trump and Netanyahu since the President returned to office in early 2025.
The visit also came amid reports of growing tensions between the two leaders, with U.S. officials reportedly frustrated by Israel’s assessments of the ongoing conflict and President Trump expressing irritation with Netanyahu ahead of the meeting. Nevertheless, Netanyahu firmly rejected suggestions of any rift, emphasizing that the discussions reflected “full cooperation, mutual support,” and shared determination to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons while advancing broader strategic objectives for Israel’s security and future.
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