Saudi Arabia Enters US-Led Strikes Against Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq

Saudi Arabia's decision to join the US in striking Iran-backed militias in Iraq marks a significant shift in the country's stance on the ongoing conflict. Until now, Saudi forces had limited their involvement to covert, retaliatory strikes against Iran. However, mounting attacks on its energy infrastructure and a punishing blockade of its Red Sea oil exports have forced Riyadh's hand.

In the 72 hours preceding the strikes, Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis launched over thirty drones at American forces and Saudi energy sites. The precision and scale of the damage would have been hard for Saudi officials to dismiss, recalling the 2019 attack on the Abqaiq refinery that briefly knocked out half the kingdom's oil output.

The threat to Saudi Arabia went beyond damaged refineries. On July 20, the Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi shipping through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, putting roughly 75% of Saudi Red Sea exports within reach of Houthi disruption.