Hostilities resumed on Tuesday after a three-day lull as Saudi Arabia joined the United States in carrying out coordinated airstrikes against Iran-aligned targets in Iraq, marking Riyadh’s first direct military involvement in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation.
The strikes followed an attack claimed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on a US airbase and command centre in Jordan, which Washington said was successfully intercepted. Saudi Arabia said the operation was also a response to attacks by Iran-backed militias on oil facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province and Riyadh earlier this week.
What Happened?
Saudi Defence Ministry spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki described the strikes as an exercise of the kingdom’s “right to self-defence” against Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq. In a separate statement, he said Saudi Arabia “does not seek escalation but will respond decisively to any aggression directed against it.”
According to the US, the operation targeted weapons storage facilities and logistical centers utilized by militants in eastern Iraq that were supported by Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the action was intended to weaken the targeted groups’ operational capabilities, while President Donald Trump informed Fox News that the attacks had been coordinated with the Iraqi government.
Iraq Condemns the Airstrikes
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the state-recognised umbrella organisation of predominantly Iran-aligned armed groups, said 20 of its fighters were killed and 32 wounded in the strikes. According to the PMF, the attacks targeted headquarters in Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala and Diyala provinces. AFP reported the deadliest strikes occurred in Nineveh and Diyala, while Iranian media said four IRGC officials were also killed.
The PMF condemned what it described as “treacherous terrorist attacks”, calling them “an extremely serious escalation and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty targeting its official security institutions.”
Iraq’s presidency echoed those concerns, describing the operation as “an unacceptable attack and a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.” The country’s National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, likewise condemned the strikes as “a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and the sanctity of its lands.” In protest, the prime minister cancelled a scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Regional Tensions Escalate
The strikes mark Saudi Arabia’s first direct military role in the current US-Iran confrontation, raising concerns that the conflict could spread further across the region. Riyadh and Tehran restored diplomatic ties in 2023 through a China-brokered agreement after years of hostility. However, recent exchanges have exposed the fragility of that rapprochement.
The latest escalation also places Iraq in an increasingly difficult position. While Baghdad maintains security and economic ties with Washington, Iran-backed armed groups remain deeply embedded within the country’s security landscape through the Popular Mobilisation Forces.
As both Tehran and Washington expand their military operations, Iraq risks once again becoming a key battleground for their wider regional rivalry.
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