Saudi Arabia has joined the United States in carrying out air strikes against Iran-backed militia sites in Iraq, marking the first time Riyadh has claimed responsibility for launching strikes inside Iraq since the Iran-US war began. US Central Command said the joint operation targeted groups linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington and Riyadh accuse of directing more than 30 drone attacks against US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure over the preceding 72 hours.

CENTCOM said US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said its air defenses had separately intercepted several drones targeting oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province and Riyadh region, describing the joint strikes as a response and adding that the kingdom "does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces."

Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias, said at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 wounded in the strikes, calling them a "highly dangerous escalation" and a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. Iran's Foreign Ministry also condemned the strikes as aggressive acts, while the Islamic Resistance in Iraq — a separate Iran-backed group — denied involvement in the Saudi attacks and warned of a "harsh response." The coalition of Iran-backed militias tied to the PMF has given Iraqi authorities until August 7 to respond, threatening direct action if the government fails to act, though it said any retaliation would avoid disrupting the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage.

The strikes represent the first major US military action in the Middle East since Trump suspended an intensive bombing campaign against Iran last Friday after 13 days. They came shortly after the US said it had intercepted a "surprise" Iranian ballistic missile attack targeting American forces in the region. Saudi Arabia's defense minister has since met separately with Vice President JD Vance and President Trump, conveying a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the kingdom's assessment that Iran will keep using proxy militias in Iraq and Yemen's Houthis to pressure both countries.