U.S. Airstrikes Target Iranian Proxy Forces in Iraq

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday night that it had executed airstrikes against Iranian-aligned forces in Iraq, with assistance from Saudi Arabian military support.

CENTCOM identified the targets as “Iranian-aligned terrorists,” stating that these strikes were essential in response to attempts to bomb oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and other critical sites from Iraq. Iran has heavily invested in establishing a presence in Iraq, deploying leaders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to train members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which includes several Shiite militant factions.

On Wednesday, the PMF confirmed the airstrikes, reporting 20 of its members killed. This incident is likely to incite significant diplomatic tensions. The PMF, although recognized as a jihadist group, is integrated into the Iraqi military and has been part of the fight against the Islamic State over the past decade. A statement from the PMF denounced the airstrikes as a breach of Iraq’s sovereignty.

CENTCOM and the Saudi Ministry of Defense provided statements on the operation. The involvement of Saudi forces might indicate a potential escalation in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict that re-emerged after President Trump’s Operation Epic Fury in February.

“U.S. and Saudi warplanes targeted numerous logistical and weapons facilities in eastern Iraq as a strong response to over 30 drone attacks led by Revolutionary Guards in the last 72 hours,” CENTCOM stated. They referred to the strikes as “precision attacks” against these Iranian-affiliated groups.

CENTCOM also claimed that the IRGC had attempted to launch ballistic missiles at U.S. bases across the Middle East, an effort characterized by some as a failed “surprise” attack, with all missiles being intercepted.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed its role in Tuesday’s strikes, labeling the targets as militias operating on Iraqi soil that were linked to assaults on Saudi oil facilities.

“Saudi Arabia confirms it does not wish for escalation but will take all necessary steps to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its resources in the event of future attacks,” the ministry commented.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry further justified the airstrikes, arguing that recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities were particularly alarming since the country was attempting to reduce tensions in the area at the time they occurred.

Meanwhile, the PMF later reported that the airstrike left 20 dead and 32 injured, though they acknowledged that these figures might change. They mentioned that the operations targeted their main headquarters and outlined a wide-ranging bombing campaign affecting various regions in Iraq, insisting that such actions violated Iraqi sovereignty.

Interestingly, Iraq has mostly managed to remain neutral in the escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, interrupted only by a “memorandum of understanding” signed in June that seems largely forgotten now. Saudi Arabia has faced several Iranian airstrikes since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, and only recently has it been targeted by Iranian proxy forces based in Iraq. The Saudi Ministry of Defense reported having detected and stopped multiple drone assaults believed to be from PMF affiliated groups aimed at its oil fields.

While the PMF organization issued a collective response to the airstrike, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance (IRI)—a lesser-known coalition of Iranian-backed Shiite factions predominantly consisting of PMF members—reacted to Saudi claims earlier in the week. IRI refuted allegations of bombing Saudi Arabia but still threatened retaliatory actions against it.

Additionally, the Houthi militants from Yemen, another group backed by Iran, targeted Saudi Arabia last month. They declared a “maritime embargo” against Saudi vessels navigating from the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, severely disrupting Saudi oil shipments to Asia.

The spokesperson for Houthi terrorism warned that any aggressive act by Saudi Arabia would provoke a robust response, emphasizing readiness for “all options.” The tensions continue to escalate, with the Iraqi Prime Minister requesting an inquiry into a recent drone attack attributed to Iranian influences.

Despite the controversy surrounding recent events, Iraqi officials maintain a commitment to good neighborliness, aiming to prevent Iraqi territory from being used for hostile actions against other nations.

In a pointed remark, IRI dismissed assertions of a Saudi siege as a mere attempt to deflect attention from their own failures in addressing the ongoing threat from Yemeni Houthi forces.

Recent reports have indicated a significant drop in Saudi oil shipments from the Red Sea, leading to the diversion of some shipments through the Suez Canal, which poses logistical challenges, particularly with the size of some oil tankers.