US-Saudi Strikes Hit Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq as Regional Tensions Escalate
Washington says the operation targeted Iran-backed armed groups after missile and drone attacks, while Iraqi paramilitary forces report casualties and condemn the strikes.
Military tensions escalate after US and Saudi strikes target Iran-backed militia positions in Iraq.
WASHINGTON — US-Saudi Strikes targeted Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq after Washington accused Tehran-aligned groups of launching missile and drone attacks against American forces and Saudi energy infrastructure, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the operation targeted logistics hubs and weapons facilities used by armed groups aligned with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the US military, the strikes came after more than 30 drone attacks over the past 72 hours, which it said were directed by the IRGC against US personnel and Saudi facilities.
Centcom said Iran also launched missiles at US forces in the Middle East on Tuesday evening, but American air defence systems intercepted all incoming missiles before they reached their targets.
Rotary Opens RO Water Filtration Plants in Mirpurkhas to Expand Access to Safe Drinking Water
Iraqi Paramilitary Forces Report Casualties
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella organisation dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias, said the joint US-Saudi operation killed at least 20 of its members and injured 32 others.
The PMF condemned the strikes as a dangerous escalation and described them as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.
The organisation includes several armed groups that have previously carried out attacks on US military personnel and facilities in Iraq. Washington has repeatedly responded with military action against those groups.
Iran Rejects Responsibility
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched missiles at a US air base and command centre in Jordan in response to what it described as American aggression.
The IRGC also claimed that its naval forces targeted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after accusing them of ignoring warnings while travelling through the strategic waterway.
However, an Iranian defence official denied that Tehran was responsible for recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. The official called accusations linking Iran to attacks on US interests in the region a “major miscalculation.”
Saudi Arabia Reports Drone Interceptions
Saudi Arabia said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed drones targeting petroleum facilities in the country’s eastern region.
Saudi defence officials alleged that Iran-affiliated militia groups operating from Iraqi territory launched the drones.
The latest military exchanges came just days after US President Donald Trump spoke of “very friendly negotiations” with Iran, despite Tehran insisting that no formal talks were taking place.
Oil Prices Rise as Strait of Hormuz Concerns Grow
The renewed conflict raised fears over the security of global energy supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
Brent crude rose more than 4% in early Asian trading to $87.70 per barrel, while US crude climbed to $82.62 as investors reacted to the heightened geopolitical risks.
The escalation also coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he met President Trump for discussions on regional security and Middle East developments.
According to recent Pentagon figures, at least 624 US service members have been wounded since military operations against Iran began earlier this year, with 417 injuries linked to Operation Epic Fury.
