Key Facts

• Saudi Arabia and the U.S. conducted joint military strikes against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq after attacks on Saudi targets.
• Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met Vice President Vance at the White House to discuss the situation.
• The strikes are a response to more than 30 recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia by militias linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
• Saudi Arabia wants to defend itself but prefers to de-escalate tensions with Iran rather than escalate conflict.
• Prince Khalid said Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu favors escalation with Iran, but Saudi Arabia sees de-escalation as better.
• Saudi Arabia is handling its conflict with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on its own and is in negotiations with them.
• The meeting aimed to share a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the war with Iran and regional stability.
• The Saudi defense minister delayed his Washington visit due to the recent Iraq strikes but resumed it to clarify Saudi positions.