US Saudi Airstrikes Hit Iran-Backed Groups in Iraq

By Aurax Radio | July 29, 2026 | 2 min read

The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out coordinated airstrikes against Iran-aligned militant targets in Iraq, marking a major escalation in the widening conflict between Washington and Tehran. The strikes followed a series of drone attacks targeting U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure, raising concerns over further regional instability.

Map of the Middle East showing Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia during a period of military escalation.

The latest strikes highlight the strategic tensions between Iran, Gulf states and U.S. forces across the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command said American and Saudi aircraft targeted logistics facilities and weapons sites operated by Iran-backed groups in eastern Iraq. The operation was launched after U.S. officials accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of directing more than 30 drone attacks against U.S. personnel and Saudi energy facilities in recent days. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted drone attacks aimed at its petroleum infrastructure, while some Iraqi militant groups denied responsibility for the attacks.

The strikes represent one of the most significant joint U.S.-Saudi military actions against Iran-linked forces during the current crisis. The United States has long maintained military partnerships with Gulf Arab states, while Saudi Arabia and Iran have competed for regional influence for decades, despite a 2023 diplomatic agreement aimed at restoring relations between Riyadh and Tehran.

The latest military action came after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. forces in the region, which American officials said was intercepted. The exchange has ended a brief reduction in hostilities and renewed concerns about the security of major energy routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea shipping lanes, which are critical to global oil markets.

Sources: Information compiled from Associated Press, Reuters, CNN and Al Jazeera reporting

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