- US-Saudi strikes on Iraq killed at least 20 militants, including several Iranians, on Wednesday, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an armed Iraqi alliance that includes pro-Iran groups.
- The Hashed al-Shaabi reported that at least 20 fighters "were martyred and another 32 wounded according to a preliminary toll."
- Two Hashed officials stated that five Iranian advisors were among those killed in a strike in the central province of Diyala.
- US President Donald Trump said the strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government, according to Fox News.
- Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi vowed to ensure that armed groups would hand over their weapons, but faced pushback from some powerful factions.
- The strikes followed Riyadh's claim that its forces had intercepted drones targeting oil facilities, blaming the Iran-backed groups in Iraq.
- Iraq denounced the US-Saudi strikes, rejecting "all acts of aggression, regardless of the party responsible or the justifications presented."
- The Ministerial Council for National Security stated it would "confront any violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and prevent any source from using Iraqi territory to threaten neighbouring states."
US-Saudi airstrikes in Iraq on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 20 militants, including five Iranian advisors, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi armed alliance. The strikes were a direct response to recent attacks on US forces and Saudi oil facilities.137
The Hashed al-Shaabi reported that 32 additional fighters were wounded in the strikes, which took place in the central province of Diyala. US President Donald Trump stated that the strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government, which has faced challenges in managing powerful pro-Iran factions.4
Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who assumed office with US support, has pledged to disarm these groups but is encountering resistance. Following the strikes, Iraq condemned the actions, asserting its rejection of all acts of aggression and emphasizing its commitment to protect its sovereignty. The Ministerial Council for National Security declared it would confront any violations of Iraq's sovereignty and prevent the use of its territory to threaten neighboring states.8
The strikes were prompted by Riyadh's claims of intercepting drones targeting its oil facilities, which it attributed to Iran-backed groups operating from Iraq.6
“The Hashed al-Shaabi reported that at least 20 fighters were martyred and another 32 wounded in the strikes. Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has vowed to ensure armed groups hand over their weapons, but faces pushback from powerful factions.”
