THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: Trump’s conflict keeps escalating, with Saudi Arabia joining airstrikes in Iraq and reportedly planning an attack on the Houthis. A recession could follow
The US war against Iran is spiraling out of control. Over the past week, the conflict has expanded across the Middle East, with attacks and counterattacks in at least five other countries. Instead of a quick war that sought to topple Iran’s regime, Donald Trump has started a regional conflict that risks severely disrupting energy supplies and prices – and triggering a global recession.
After a few days of relative calm, the conflict resumed with the Pentagon carrying out almost nightly strikes against Iran, and Tehran retaliating against US military bases in the region. The conflict also extended to attacks in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan and Egypt. And there’s little sign that peace negotiations between the US and Iran, which are being brokered by Pakistan and Qatar, are making much progress.
The most serious escalation took place on Wednesday, when Saudi Arabia announced it had joined the US in carrying out a series of airstrikes inside Iraq, against the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), killing at least 20 fighters. Saudi officials had blamed the Iraqi-based militias for launching drone attacks against Saudi oil facilities on 27 July, and warned that the kingdom would retaliate if the Iraqi government did not restrain the groups. The PMF is a network of mostly Shia Muslim militias that was created, with Tehran’s support, in 2014 to fight the Islamic State terror group that had taken control of large parts of Iraq. » | Mohamad Bazzi | Saturday, August 1, 2026