U.S. and Saudi Arabia Strike Iran-Backed Armed Groups in Iraq
WASHINGTON/RIYADH – U.S. and Saudi forces launched airstrikes late Tuesday on Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Iraq, hitting sites tied to weapons storage and logistics activity, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM said the strikes were aimed at what it called terrorist weapons and logistics facilities in eastern Iraq, after a recent wave of attacks it attributed to Iran-backed groups targeting U.S. troops and Saudi energy infrastructure.
The operation unfolded during a five-day pause in U.S. attacks on Iran, a break President Donald Trump said was intended to leave room for diplomacy. Officials have not made clear when, or if, U.S. strikes on Iran might begin again.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said its forces took part in the mission, calling the attacks “precise and targeted” and saying Riyadh was acting under its right to self-defense.
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an Iraqi paramilitary coalition closely aligned with Iran, said the strikes killed at least 20 of its fighters and injured 32 others. The group said its Baghdad headquarters and six additional sites were struck.
CENTCOM described the operation as retaliation for more than 30 attempted drone attacks over the past three days against U.S. forces and Saudi energy facilities. The command said the attacks aimed at U.S. assets did not succeed.
Saudi Arabia said it had shot down drones launched from Iraq toward oil facilities in Riyadh and in the kingdom’s eastern region.
Neither Washington nor Riyadh named the specific groups hit in the strikes. Iran, however, backs several Shiite militia factions in Iraq that have previously fired rockets at U.S. forces. Among them is Kata’ib Hezbollah, which Washington has designated a foreign terrorist organization.
CENTCOM further accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of directing the attacks on U.S. and Saudi interests.
AXADLETM
