US and Saudi Forces Strike Iran-Backed PMF Bases in Iraq

U.S. and Saudi Arabian forces carried out a joint airstrike operation on Thursday, striking several bases of the Iran‑backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq. The attack, reportedly launched from aircraft based in the region, targeted fortified camps believed to be used by the militia for training and logistics. U.S. officials said the operation was a response to recent escalations in the area and aimed to deter further hostile actions by the PMF.

The PMF, a coalition of militias with close ties to Iran, has been a key player in Iraq’s security landscape since the 2014 surge against ISIS. Over the past months, the group has reportedly increased its presence in southern Iraq, prompting concerns from the U.S. and its allies about potential Iranian influence on the ground. The coordinated strike marked the latest in a series of U.S. and coalition actions designed to limit the militia’s operational reach and to protect U.S. forces and regional partners.

While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the strike underscores the heightened tensions between U.S. forces and Iran‑aligned militias in Iraq. It also signals a continued willingness by Washington and Riyadh to collaborate on counter‑militia operations, a development that may influence the broader security calculus in the Middle East.