The United States and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday evening conducted joint precision airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militias in Eastern Iraq. The strikes follow a “surprise” missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan earlier in the day.
According to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple logistics and weapons sites. CENTCOM described the targets as belonging to Iran-aligned groups that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had directed to carry out attacks on U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Tuesday’s operation was launched in response to more than 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks over the preceding 72 hours. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense stated that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory that targeted petroleum facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh regions.
Saudi Arabia’s statement framed the strikes as precise and targeted actions against objectives linked to those attacks, conducted in coordination with CENTCOM, and emphasized the kingdom’s right to self-defense while stating it does not seek escalation.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella organization that includes Iran-backed groups integrated into Iraq’s security structure, reported that the strikes hit headquarters and facilities in multiple locations, including Baghdad and sites in other provinces. The PMF said at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 wounded, with damage to buildings and facilities.
According to an additional report from The Independent, six Iranian advisers were also killed in the strikes.
Overnight US-Saudi strikes across Iraq left at least 20 PMF fighters dead and 32 wounded, per an initial toll released in a PMF statement. pic.twitter.com/LfpRjAR5w7
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 29, 2026
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The joint strikes followed an earlier Iranian attack on U.S. forces earlier in the day.
CENTCOM reported that at approximately 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time, IRGC forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in what it described as an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. Axios cited a U.S. official identifying the target as a U.S. base in Jordan
CENTCOM further stated that all the missiles were successfully intercepted, while Jordan’s military confirmed intercepting and destroying five missiles that entered its airspace, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage from that incident. The Iranian regime also claimed responsibility for the attack in a state media report.
The counter-strikes mark the first time Saudi Arabia has publicly announced participation in offensive military actions alongside the United States since the conflict erupted on February 28. Prior reports had indicated possible earlier unconfirmed or covert Saudi actions against Iranian or proxy targets, but those lacked official acknowledgment from Riyadh.
In addition, President Donald Trump responded to the missile attack by stating that the United States would hit Iran hard and that Iran would face further consequences. In comments to Fox News, he indicated that retaliatory measures would follow the attempted surprise attack. CENTCOM had already warned that additional attacks on U.S. forces or Saudi energy infrastructure would prompt further military responses.
