Iran Strikes Spread as US Troop Buildup Spurs Escalation Concern

Missile strikes ripped across the Middle East over the weekend as Iran and its proxies lobbed attacks at US allies, with neither Washington nor Tehran publicly accepting Pakistan’s offer to host talks to end the conflict.

The arrival of a US amphibious assault group and the entry of Iran-backed Houthi forces heightened fears of escalation as the war entered its second month, even as Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met to seek a diplomatic off-ramp.