Saudi Arabia, US launch strikes on Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq

Saudia Arabia announced in the early hours of Wednesday morning it had launched targeted strikes on Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq, in coordination with US Central Command (CENTCOM).

It comes after Saudi Arabia's air defences recently intercepted and destroyed drones launched from Iraq targeting oil facilities in the region, reaffirming its right to respond to the sources of "the aggression" and strongly condemning the attack.

A statement by the Saudi Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said: "Proceeding from the right to self-defence guaranteed by international law under Article (51) of the United Nations Charter, the Saudi Armed Forces, in coordination with the US Central Command, conducted precise and targeted strikes against objectives belonging to those armed groups located in Iraq and linked to the attacks on petroleum facilities in Saudi Arabia."

Reported by the Saudi Press Agency, it added that Saudi Arabia "does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces".

In its own statement, CENTCOM said that US and Saudi forces struck "logistic and weapons sites across eastern Iraq" belonging to the Iran-backed armed groups, urging Iran and its proxies to "cease these attacks to avoid further US military response."

https://t.co/4gooax78lx

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 29, 2026

صرح المتحدث الرسمي باسم وزارة الدفاع اللواء الركن تركي المالكي أنه إلحاقاً للبيانين الصادرين من وزارة الدفاع يومي الاثنين (١٣ صفر ١٤٤٨هـ) والثلاثاء ( ١٤ صفر ١٤٤٨هـ) الموافقين ( ٢٧- ٢٨ يوليو ٢٠٢٦م) من أن الدفاعات الجوية اعترضت ودمرت عدداً من المسيّرات التي حاولت استهداف منشآت… pic.twitter.com/0Pei5KwSkQ

— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) July 29, 2026