Middle East tensions escalate as Iraq strikes trigger retaliation from the US and Saudi Arabia

News24 Washington Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley explains why Saudi Arabia and the US are leading the response after strikes targeted Saudi oil facilities. “Obviously it’s in retaliation to the strikes that came out of Iraq 48 hours ago into Saudi Arabia itself,” Mr Kearsley told News24 host Sharri Markson. “It makes much more sense from a geopolitical perspective for Saudi Arabia and the United States to be involved in the retaliation because it was strikes on Saudi oil facilities. “Israel keeping out of that one at this stage is probably a wise choice.”