Houthis Join Forces with Iraqi Factions to Launch Attacks on Saudi Arabia from Iraq

Regional officials have reported that Yemen's Houthi movement participated in attacks on Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territory, coordinated with Iran-backed Iraqi armed factions. The development highlights an increasing level of military cooperation among groups aligned with the 'Axis of Resistance.'

According to regional officials, some of the attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province were launched from inside Iraq under the direct supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This assessment differs from the official Saudi position, which attributed the attacks solely to Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups.

Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House, stated that relations between the Houthis and Iraqi armed factions have evolved beyond coordination through Iran, expanding to include direct training, operational planning, and joint military operations among members of the 'Axis of Resistance.'

Iraq has become an increasingly important hub within Iran's regional network, particularly following the decline of Tehran's allies in Syria and Lebanon. The country's vast territory and over 800-kilometer border with Saudi Arabia provide favorable conditions for concealing launch sites and conducting attacks that are difficult to detect.

The Iraqi Prime Minister canceled a planned visit to Saudi Arabia following the joint airstrikes by Saudi Arabia and the United States against sites inside Iraq. This development suggests that the regional conflict is increasingly shifting toward coordinated military action among Iran-aligned groups, further complicating the Gulf's security landscape.