US, Saudi Jets Strike Iran-Linked Targets in Iraq
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- U.S. and Saudi forces launched retaliatory airstrikes on Iran-backed militants in eastern Iraq on Wednesday (July 29, 2026), targeting logistics and weapons sites the U.S. military said belonged to 'Iran-aligned terrorists'.
- Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry identified the targets as 'terrorist militias loyal to Iran' linked to attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities.
- The strikes followed a short pause in Iran war hostilities, drawing condemnation from Iraqi armed groups as a 'dangerous escalation,' per Al Jazeera.
- Former paramilitaries told The Hindu that at least 20 people were killed — a toll not officially confirmed by U.S. or Saudi military statements.
- Separately, Iran rejected Oman's proposal for joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, with a senior Iranian official telling Reuters the plan 'had no chance of success' and insisting only Tehran and Muscat should administer the chokepoint.
Why it matters: Coordinated U.S.-Saudi airstrikes on Iran-linked Iraqi militias — blamed by Riyadh for attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities — followed a brief pause in West Asia hostilities, with The Hindu reporting at least 20 dead via former paramilitaries rather than via U.S. or Saudi confirmation.
