US-Saudi Airstrikes in Iraq Kill 20 Iran-Backed Militants, Tensions Escalate

In a significant military operation, joint airstrikes conducted by the United States and Saudi Arabia in Iraq have resulted in the deaths of at least 20 members of Iran-aligned militias, including several Iranian military advisers. This information has been confirmed by officials from the Iraqi militia, Iranian media outlets, and a US official who is knowledgeable about the operation. The strikes, which took place on Tuesday night, specifically targeted locations known to house Iranian personnel, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The intention behind these strikes was to diminish the operational capabilities of Iran-backed groups, particularly their ability to launch missile and drone attacks. The Hashed al-Shaabi, also recognized as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), reported that among those killed were 20 of its fighters, with an additional 32 sustaining injuries, according to initial assessments. Furthermore, two officials from the Hashed confirmed to AFP that five Iranian advisers were among the casualties in a strike that occurred in Diyala province, located in central Iraq. Iranian sources have also indicated that at least four individuals linked to the IRGC were killed during the coordinated US-Saudi operation.

Witnesses in Baghdad reported the somber sight of coffins adorned with Iranian flags at a funeral organized by the PMF for the deceased militants. The US and Saudi governments have stated that the airstrikes were a direct response to previous assaults on American military personnel and Saudi oil infrastructure. This military action is part of a broader strategy amid increasing US pressure on Iraq to limit the influence of pro-Iranian armed factions, which have consistently targeted US installations and have called for the expulsion of American troops from Iraq. US President Donald Trump indicated that the operation was executed in coordination with the Iraqi government, as reported by Fox News. Iraq's Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, who assumed office earlier this year, has committed to bringing these armed groups under the control of the state and ensuring their disarmament. His administration has set a deadline of September 30 for groups identified by Washington as terrorist organizations to surrender their weapons, although this initiative has met with resistance from some influential factions.