Airstrikes by the United States and Saudi Arabia targeting Iran-backed militias have prompted Iraq to convene an emergency National Security Council meeting amid escalating regional tensions.
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has convened an emergency meeting of the country’s National Security Council following overnight airstrikes by the United States and Saudi Arabia targeting Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq.
According to Iraq’s state news agency, INA, the emergency meeting will assess the country’s security situation and the implications of the coordinated military strikes.
The United States said the operation targeted Iran-allied militia groups accused of carrying out attacks in Iraq.
The Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella organisation comprising mainly Shiite militias aligned with Iran, said the strikes killed 20 fighters and injured 32 others.
The group stated that the airstrikes hit multiple locations across Iraq, including areas around Baghdad, the southern province of Basra, and Nineveh Province in the north. According to the PMF, the attacks also damaged buildings, military vehicles and other equipment.
The U.S. military said the strikes were launched in response to what it described as more than 30 drone attacks allegedly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards over the previous 72 hours.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces participated in the operation alongside the United States, targeting militia positions that had previously been used to launch attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
The latest military action comes amid heightened regional instability following the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran. According to reports, Gulf states have increasingly come under attack from armed groups operating in Iraq, where Tehran-backed militias continue to wield considerable influence.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi’s administration has repeatedly stated its intention to disarm the militias and strengthen state control over security, although observers say significant challenges remain.
Al-Zaidi assumed office as Iraq’s prime minister in May, and his government continues to face mounting security and political pressures as regional tensions intensify.
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