US, Saudi Forces Strike Iran-Backed Militia Sites in Iraq
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- U.S. Central Command confirmed that American and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq on Tuesday, July 28, 2026
- The strikes were a direct response to more than 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks carried out over the preceding 72 hours, per Central Command's statement
- Central Command warned that Iran's Revolutionary Guard "and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response"
- Saudi Arabia said it shot down Iraq-launched drones for a second consecutive day, with the drones having attempted to target petroleum facilities in the kingdom's eastern region
Why it matters: This marks a formal joint U.S.-Saudi military operation against Iran-backed militias on Iraqi soil, triggered by 30+ IRGC-directed drone attacks in just 72 hours. Saudi petroleum facilities in the kingdom's eastern region were the specific target, raising the stakes for regional oil infrastructure and signaling that further militia attacks will draw direct combined retaliation.
