US-Saudi Strikes on Iraqi Militias Spark Crisis for Zaidi's Government

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has canceled his official trip to Saudi Arabia following a recent escalation of airstrikes by US and Saudi forces targeting Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The strikes, which killed at least 20 members and wounded 32 others of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), were in response to repeated drone assaults on Saudi oil facilities.

The cancellation of Zaidi's trip comes as he has been trying to reorient Iraq away from Tehran's influence and toward closer ties with the US and Gulf states. His first foreign visit since becoming prime minister was to the US, where he met with President Donald Trump amid fanfare.

Trump administration officials have accused the PMF of operating outside the government's command and often in coordination with Iran. The latest drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities underscored the limits of Zaidi's power and the immense challenges facing Iraq's premier as his country becomes a new battleground in the US-Iran conflict.