New regional escalation... America and Saudi Arabia target Iran-aligned sites in eastern Iraq

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out a joint military operation with the Saudi armed forces targeting sites in eastern Iraq that it said were being used by Iran-aligned groups, in response to drone attacks targeting US forces and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.

CENTCOM said the airstrikes were carried out on July 28 and targeted weapons depots and logistical support centers, stressing that these sites were being used by elements linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to conduct operations against US forces and Saudi oil infrastructure.

According to the statement, US and Saudi fighter jets took part in the operation, which was described as a direct response to more than 30 drone attacks over the past 72 hours. It added that US defenses had succeeded in thwarting all the attacks and preventing them from achieving their objectives.

The Central Command added that the period between February and April 2026 witnessed more than 600 attempted attacks on American citizens and facilities, for which it blamed Iran-aligned militias operating inside Iraq.

Washington stressed that continued attacks would be met with further military measures, calling on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and its allied groups to halt what it described as “repeated aggressions.”

For its part, the Saudi Ministry of Defense, through its official spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki, confirmed that the Saudi armed forces had participated, in coordination with US Central Command, in carrying out precision strikes against targets linked to the groups that targeted the Kingdom’s petroleum facilities, stressing that Riyadh does not seek escalation but will respond firmly to any attack affecting its security.

So far, no official comment has been issued by Iran or the Iraqi authorities regarding the strikes or the accusations contained in the American and Saudi statements.