US President Donald Trump described Iran and Iran-backed armed groups in the region as 'the world's cancer.' In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump claimed that the overnight US and Saudi strikes against 'Iran-backed Shia militias' in Iraq were coordinated with the Baghdad government.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Saudi Defense Ministry announced coordinated precision strikes targeting logistics and weapons facilities belonging to Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Iraq. According to the statement, the strikes were in retaliation for more than 30 drone (UAV) attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and US military bases in the region over the past 72 hours.
Emergency meeting and reactions from Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi canceled his planned visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday and convened an emergency security meeting in Baghdad. The Iraqi Security Media Cell announced that the prime minister had summoned the National Security Council for an urgent session.
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reported that at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 injured in the strikes. Hadi al-Amiri, Secretary-General of the Badr Organization in Iraq, described the strikes as an unjust act of aggression against Iraq's sovereignty and called for a comprehensive review of security relations between Baghdad and Washington.
Iran's condemnation and Gulf support
The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the joint US-Saudi airstrikes. The ministry statement said the attacks constituted a clear violation of Iraq's national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law. Iran claimed that the strikes hit state facilities and places where pilgrims were staying.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities launched from Iraqi territory and affirmed its full support for Riyadh. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) described the ongoing attacks by armed groups in Iraq against Saudi Arabia as a dangerous escalation and stressed that member states stood united behind Saudi Arabia.
Trump also said in the interview that US forces intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile attack in Jordan overnight, with troops having only minutes to shoot down the missiles before they reached their targets. Trump said he watched footage that included real-time coordinate updates from US personnel during the interception, and hinted that additional warnings to Iranian proxies were being considered.
