Saudi-Led Coalition Strikes Iraqi Forces Amid Accusations of Oil Facility Attacks

A Saudi-led coalition of air forces carried out airstrikes against Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) bases across seven Iraqi provinces, killing at least 20 fighters and wounding 32 others. The strikes targeted locations where brigades affiliated with the Badr Organization are stationed.

The US and Saudi Arabia accused the Badr Organization and Kataib Hezbollah of being behind attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in recent weeks. Iraqi security officials told The New Region that Saudi authorities informed Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi through an intermediary that these two factions were responsible for the recent attacks.

Despite repeated public denials, multiple senior military officials and PMF commanders told The New Region that the prime minister had received advance notice of the airstrikes. They conveyed that a decision had been made to retaliate but did not specify when or where the strikes would take place.