Riyadh says its targeted attacks were done in coordination with the US military.
Saudi Arabia and the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said early Wednesday that joint air strikes targeted Iran-backed militias in Iraq responsible for attacks on American troops and Saudi energy insfrastructure.
launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-aligned terrorist militias”.
It said it categorically rejected any attacks in Iraqi territory, while also opposing “the use of Iraqi territory as a launching point or battleground for attacks against neighboring countries”.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has called an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security following the dawn strikes.
Riyadh says its targeted attacks were done in coordination with the US military.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) has said at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 wounded in joint Saudi-US strikes on its sites across the country.
Saudi Arabia and the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said early Wednesday that joint air strikes targeted Iran-backed militias in Iraq responsible for attacks on American troops and Saudi energy insfrastructure.
The strikes are the first major US military action in the Middle East since last Friday, when President Donald Trump suspended an intensive bombing campaign after 13 days.
The Saudi Ministry of Defence said in a statement the strikes were “in response to recent drone attacks” and that Saudi air defences had “intercepted and destroyed several drones that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh regions…. launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-aligned terrorist militias”.
“The Kingdom emphasises that it does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces.”
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a self-proclaimed resistance armed group backed by Iran, had denied any role in the attacks on Saudi Arabia. It said Saudi claims were “fabrications” and that “any foolish Saudi action will be met with a harsh response”.
Iran, PMF condemn US-Saudi strikes
In a statement, the PMF – which is an umbrella group for Iraqi militias backed, trained and loyal to Iran, said the US-Saudi attacks in Iraq represent a “highly dangerous escalation” and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and official security institutions.
Advertisement
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned what it called “aggressive attacks” by the US and Saudi Arabia in Iraq, saying they amounted to a violation of Iraq’s “national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
The Iraqi presidency denounced the attack “that targeted facilities of the PMF”. It said it categorically rejected any attacks in Iraqi territory, while also opposing “the use of Iraqi territory as a launching point or battleground for attacks against neighboring countries”.
The issue of the PMF has always been a contentious one between the Iraqi government and the US and other neighbouring countries. Under Iraqi law, the PMF is part of the country’s security forces and reports directly to the commander-in-chief who is also the prime minister. Previous Iraqi government failed to rein in the power of these armed groups who at times struck the US embassy in Baghdad and bases across Iraq at will and refuse government or military orders.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has called an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security following the dawn strikes.
