US, Saudi Arabia announce joint airstrikes on Iran-backed factions in Iraq

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) early Wednesday announced that American and Saudi forces carried out coordinated airstrikes against what it described as positions belonging to “Iran-backed militias” across multiple areas in eastern Iraq. According to CENTCOM, the operation was launched in response to more than 30 drone attacks carried out over the previous 72 hours. Shortly afterward, Saudi Arabia confirmed its participation in the strikes, while emphasizing that it does not seek further escalation. Meanwhile, images circulating across regional media purportedly showed the aftermath of strikes targeting camps allegedly linked to armed factions near Iraq’s border with Iran, including locations in Basra, Wasit, and extending toward Nineveh. In a statement, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said its forces conducted precision strikes in coordination with U.S. Central Command against targets linked to the drone attacks that recently targeted oil facilities in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province and Riyadh. The ministry stressed that Saudi Arabia does not seek escalation but would respond to any attacks against its territory. If confirmed, the operation would mark the first publicly acknowledged Saudi military action inside Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War, when the Kingdom participated in the U.S.-led coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Witnesses cited by Iraqi outlet 964 Network said the strikes targeted sites in the provinces of Karbala, Basra, Wasit, and Nineveh. The reported locations span a large geographical area, including sites near Iraq’s eastern border with Iran. However, Iraqi authorities had not immediately issued an official statement confirming the strikes or providing details on casualties or damage at the time of publication. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions following a series of drone attacks targeting Saudi oil infrastructure, which Riyadh has blamed on Iran-backed groups operating from Iraqi territory. The strikes also come as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi is expected to visit Saudi Arabia in the near future, with bilateral security and regional stability expected to feature prominently on the agenda. Saudi Arabia has traditionally exercised restraint regarding direct military action inside Iraq. Consequently, its public acknowledgment of participation in the operation could have significant diplomatic and security implications for both countries and the wider region. The situation remains fluid, and further official statements from Baghdad, Washington, and Riyadh are expected.