Pro-Iranian Groups Threaten Saudi Arabia After Joint Airstrikes in Iraq

Baghdad – 30 July 2026: According to the US regional command CENTCOM, the United States and Saudi Arabia jointly attacked positions held by armed groups linked to Iran in Iraq. Fighter jets from both countries reportedly struck several logistics and weapons sites in the east of the country. The operation was said to be a response to drone attacks that, according to Saudi Arabia, were launched from Iraq against energy facilities and other targets in the kingdom.

Several pro-Iranian groups subsequently announced retaliation against Saudi Arabia. They initially provided no specific details about possible targets, the timing or the scale of further attacks. Responsibility for the preceding drone attacks is also disputed. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella organization denies responsibility for the attacks attributed to it against Saudi Arabia.

On 27 July, the Saudi Ministry of Defense said that air defenses had intercepted and destroyed drones launched from Iraq. Facilities in the Eastern Province and the capital Riyadh were named as possible targets. The government in Riyadh called on Baghdad to prevent Iraqi territory from being used as a launching point for attacks on neighboring countries.

The Popular Mobilization Units, an umbrella organization of predominantly Shiite militias that is formally integrated into Iraqi security structures, reported at least 20 dead and 32 injured. Two Iraqi militia representatives also reported that six Iranian advisers had been killed. An Iranian regional authority, however, cited four deaths. These claims could not initially be independently confirmed.

The Iraqi government condemned the US-Saudi operation as a violation of its sovereignty. The National Security Council said the strikes had taken place even though Baghdad had already discussed the allegations against armed groups in the country with the parties involved. The government had previously announced an investigation into the Saudi claims regarding drone launches from Iraqi territory.

Baghdad’s room for maneuver is limited: Parts of the Popular Mobilization Units are subject to state structures, while individual factions also maintain close ties to Tehran and pursue their own military interests. Attacks by foreign forces therefore increase pressure on the government both to defend state sovereignty and to effectively control armed groups.

At the same time, the military confrontation expanded. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had fired ballistic missiles at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, where US forces are also stationed. Jordan’s army reported shooting down five missiles; no information about damage or casualties was initially available.

The escalation triggered significant movements in energy markets. Brent crude rose 7.3 percent on 29 July to US$88.093 per barrel. Shipping routes in the Red Sea also remain at risk: The Houthi militia in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi energy targets and ships.