US, Saudi strike Iran-backed militants in Iraq, US says
US and Saudi warplanes struck Iran-backed militants in Iraq on Tuesday, the US military said, after what it described as more than two dozen drone attacks in recent days.
US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iran-aligned groups that it said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure. CENTCOM warned that the IRGC and its proxies must stop the attacks to avoid further US military action.
Saudi Arabia's defence ministry confirmed Saudi involvement, saying it hit militia targets on Iraqi territory linked to attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities. The ministry had earlier said Saudi forces intercepted drones targeting oil facilities in the east and blamed Iran-backed groups in Iraq.
Riyadh had called on Iraq to prevent attacks from its territory. Baghdad said it ordered an investigation.
CENTCOM separately said earlier Tuesday that Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles in what it called an attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East, and said all were intercepted. Both sides had held fire over the weekend after nearly two weeks of US strikes on Iran and Iranian missile and drone salvos targeting US allies around the Gulf.
Update
CENTCOM said the targets were Iran-aligned groups it said the IRGC directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia's defence ministry confirmed Saudi involvement and said it hit militia targets linked to attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities.
CENTCOM warned of further US military response if the attacks continued.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 01:11:43 UTC.
Update
Saudi Arabia said it struck militia targets in Iraq in self-defence.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 00:49:17 UTC.
Update
The US military said US and Saudi warplanes carried out the strikes on Tuesday.
US Central Command said the strikes followed more than two dozen drone attacks in recent days.
CENTCOM said the targets were Iran-aligned groups that it said the IRGC directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
CENTCOM warned that the IRGC and its proxies must stop the attacks to avoid further US military response.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 00:44:38 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source item does not give casualty or damage figures from the Iraq strikes.
The exact strike locations in Iraq are not specified.
Responsibility for the drone attacks and IRGC direction are presented as US and Saudi claims.
Source
AFP news report published on .