US and Saudi Arabia conduct joint airstrikes on Iran-aligned groups in Iraq

Washington and Riyadh carried out coordinated air strikes against facilities in Iraq on Saturday, saying the operations were aimed at “Iran‑aligned” militia groups that have been active in the country. The United States Central Command confirmed that a series of precision munitions were released from U.S. and Saudi aircraft, targeting command and control sites identified as belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces and other paramilitary formations linked to Tehran.

Both governments described the action as a defensive measure intended to curb the militias’ ability to launch attacks on U.S. personnel and regional partners. Iraqi officials condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty, while Iran’s foreign ministry denounced the operation as an act of aggression. The United Nations called for restraint and urged all parties to respect Iraq’s territorial integrity as diplomatic channels remain open to address the underlying security concerns.