Saudi Arabia and the United States have launched joint strikes on Iran-supported militias inside Iraq, raising the risk of wider conflict across the region.

US Central Command stated the targets were Iran-linked militants ordered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to hit American troops and Saudi oil facilities.

Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces, largely made up of Iran-backed Shia groups, reported that at least 20 fighters died in the combined US-Saudi raids on their positions.

The action followed hours after Centcom announced Iran had fired missiles toward US troops in the Middle East in what it called a surprise bid, breaking a brief pause in fighting.

American officials said the Iranian launch took place at 17:45 EDT on Tuesday and that every missile was intercepted successfully.

The IRGC claimed the missiles struck a US air base and command post in Jordan as retaliation for American military actions it described as aggressive.

It added that its naval units hit three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after the vessels ignored warnings and used what the IRGC called an unsafe and illegal passage.

Centcom reported that US and Saudi jets hit several militia supply and weapons locations in eastern Iraq after more than 30 drone attacks directed by the IRGC in the previous three days.

The command labeled the drone strikes unjustified and noted that none succeeded.

Centcom warned that the IRGC and its proxies must stop the attacks to prevent additional American military action.

The PMF issued a statement on Wednesday saying at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 wounded during the strikes on multiple bases, calling the raids a serious escalation and breach of Iraqi sovereignty.

The PMF serves as an umbrella for mostly Shia militias now formally part of Iraq's armed forces, including several Iran-backed units used by Tehran to extend influence in the region.

These groups have repeatedly targeted US personnel in Iraq to push remaining American forces out, prompting regular US counterstrikes.

An Iranian defense official told state television that Iran had no role in the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and warned that linking such incidents to Tehran would be a serious error, according to Reuters.

On Tuesday Saudi Arabia announced its forces had shot down drones aimed at oil sites in the eastern part of the country and blamed Iran-linked militias operating from Iraq.

The fresh clashes came roughly a day after US President Donald Trump mentioned friendly talks with Iran, following three days without exchanges and after 13 nights of US bombing that destroyed tunnels and bridges in southern Iran with many reported deaths.

Control of the Strait of Hormuz stays a central issue in any discussions, which Tehran says are not occurring.

Oil prices climbed early Wednesday amid fears that further fighting could interrupt energy shipments through the waterway.