Saudi Arabia and the United States conduct joint air strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq
The United States and Saudi Arabia conducted joint air strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq to retaliate for recent drone attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure. The Saudi Ministry of Defence stated that the strikes were a response to drones launched from Iraqi territory that targeted petroleum facilities in the Riyadh and Eastern Province regions. Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) reported that eight of its members were killed and four others were wounded during the operations. While the Saudi government seeks to avoid escalation, the PMF described the attacks as a highly dangerous escalation and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, another Iran-backed group, denied involvement in the drone attacks, labeling the Saudi claims as fabrications. The strikes occurred following a brief pause in fighting, during which oil prices rose to approximately $88 per barrel. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered security agencies to investigate the drone attacks, aiming to prevent Iraqi territory from being used as a launching point for attacks on neighboring countries.