US and Saudi forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq on July 29, killing at least 20 fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi, an armed Iraqi alliance that includes Iran-backed militias.
The strikes targeted multiple bases across seven Iraqi provinces, including Baghdad, Nineveh, and Basra, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). The group reported 20 fatalities and 32 injuries in the preliminary toll.
The US and Saudi governments said the operations were in response to recent attacks on US troops and Saudi oil infrastructure, which they attributed to Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq.
Relations between Washington and Tehran, both key allies of Iraq, have long complicated the country's security landscape, with Iraq often serving as a proxy battleground. The Hashed al-Shaabi was originally formed in 2014 to combat jihadist groups and later integrated into Iraq's official armed forces, though some brigades act independently.
US President Donald Trump stated the strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government, reflecting increased US pressure on Baghdad to disarm pro-Iran militias. Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who assumed office earlier this year with US support, has committed to disarming these groups by September 30 but faces resistance from powerful factions.
The Iraqi presidency condemned the airstrikes as a "blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty" and rejected the use of Iraqi territory for attacks on neighboring countries, though it did not explicitly name the US or Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh reported intercepting drones targeting its oil facilities, blaming Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of pro-Iran armed groups, has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on US bases in the region but has remained silent since the recent escalation.
The strikes caused material damage to the targeted bases, with the Hashed al-Shaabi warning of a dangerous escalation against an official Iraqi security institution.
Iraq continues to navigate complex internal and regional tensions as it seeks stability after decades of conflict, with ongoing challenges posed by armed groups and foreign influence.
