The United States and Saudi Arabia conducted air strikes across Iraq on July 29, 2026 [2], killing at least 20 members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) [1].
The joint operation marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, signaling a coordinated military effort to neutralize Iran-backed proxies and protect critical energy infrastructure.
Targets for the strikes spanned the length of the country, stretching from the northern city of Kirkuk to the southern port of Basra [1]. The operation focused on the PMF, an umbrella organization of Iran-backed militias operating within Iraq.
Officials said the strikes were carried out in retaliation for a series of drone attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities [1]. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia said the mission aimed to curb the general activity of Iran-backed militias within Iraqi borders [2].
Iraq has described the attacks as a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty [1]. The Iraqi government has previously struggled to balance its relationship with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, while managing the influence of the PMF and Iran within its territory.
While the PMF has not issued a formal response to the casualty count, reports indicate at least 20 fighters died during the raids [1]. The coordination between Washington and Riyadh suggests a tightened security alignment regarding the stability of the Persian Gulf region.
“The United States and Saudi Arabia conducted air strikes across Iraq on July 29, 2026”
This operation demonstrates a shift toward proactive, joint military interventions by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to deter Iranian influence. By striking targets from Kirkuk to Basra, the coalition is signaling that no region of Iraq is a safe haven for PMF activities, potentially forcing the Iraqi government to choose between its sovereign ties to Tehran and its security partnerships with the West and Riyadh.
