- Saudi Arabia and the US have carried out strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict.
- US Central Command (Centcom) stated the strikes targeted "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure".
- The Iraqi paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) reported that at least 20 of its members had been killed in the US-Saudi strikes.
- Centcom reported that US and Saudi fighter jets struck "multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq" in response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks.
- The PMF described the strikes as a "dangerous escalation" and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, with at least 20 fighters killed and 32 wounded.
- An Iranian defence official denied any Iranian connection to the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, warning that attributing attacks on US interests in the region to Iran was a "major miscalculation".
- Defence ministry spokesman Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki alleged that the drones targeting Saudi facilities were launched by Iran-affiliated militia groups in Iraqi territory.
Saudi Arabia and the US have escalated military actions against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).13
The strikes, described by the PMF as a "dangerous escalation" and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, targeted multiple bases in eastern Iraq.56
According to US Central Command (Centcom), the airstrikes were a direct response to over 30 drone attacks directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) within the last 72 hours.
Centcom stated that the strikes aimed at "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure."
The PMF reported that in addition to the fatalities, 32 fighters were wounded during the attacks.
An Iranian defense official denied any connection to the drone attacks, while Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki of the Saudi defense ministry alleged that the drones were launched by Iran-affiliated militia groups operating from Iraqi territory.
This military action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region, raising concerns about further instability in Iraq and the broader Middle East.
“US Central Command stated the strikes targeted "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure." The PMF described the strikes as a "dangerous escalation" and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, with at least 20 fighters killed and 32 wounded.”
BBC
