Saudi Arabia and the United States carried out coordinated military strikes on Iranian-aligned armed groups in Iraq, resulting in casualties and escalating regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia announced it had conducted targeted strikes against Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq in coordination with US Central Command early Wednesday, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defence. The action was presented as a response to recent drone attacks on Saudi facilities, with the kingdom stating its air defences had intercepted and destroyed multiple unmanned aircraft originating from Iraqi territory that targeted petroleum installations in the Eastern Province and Riyadh.
The Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces acknowledged that eight of its members were killed and four others wounded in the strikes targeting its headquarters across Iraq. The organisation characterized the military action as a "highly dangerous escalation" that violated Iraqi sovereignty and undermined the country's official security institutions. However, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization comprising various Iran-aligned groups, denied involvement in the drone attacks, dismissing Saudi allegations as "fabrications."
Saudi Arabia stated it does not seek further escalation but pledged to respond to any aggression directed against the kingdom. Meanwhile, Iraq's military reiterated its commitment to preventing its territory from being used as a platform for attacks on friendly nations. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, following his earlier directive for Iraqi security agencies to investigate the drone strikes against Saudi Arabia. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq warned that any further Saudi action would provoke a "harsh response."
