First Saudi Iraq Operation
US-Saudi Airstrikes Kill 20 in Iraq, Marking First Acknowledged Saudi Military Operation
Anonymous
Key Points
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In Nineveh Plains, seven strikes hit the fourth regiment of Brigade 30 and the Directorate of Armored Combat at 3:20 a.m., killing eight members of Brigade 30 and two from the armored directorate and wounding six, according to the Nineveh Operations Command.
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This is the first acknowledged Saudi military operation inside Iraq.
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AFP reported that Nineveh was the deadliest province, with 'at least 10' PMF members killed.
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Rudaw notes the PMF is Iran-aligned and that the joint US-Saudi strikes killed 'at least' 20 members and injured 30 others, with the toll expected to rise, described as launched by the 'joint US-Saudi aggression.'
Joint US-Saudi airstrikes hit Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) bases across seven Iraqi governorates, killing at least 20 fighters and wounding around 32 others, according to 964 Media. The PMF — an Iran-aligned paramilitary alliance formally integrated into Iraq's security forces — called the strikes a "dangerous escalation" and a direct violation of Iraq's sovereignty.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi convened an emergency meeting of national security leaders as the strikes were still unfolding. Times of Israel reported that the death toll is expected to rise as assessment teams continue field work across the affected provinces.
Nineveh Hit Hardest as Strikes Land at 3 a.m.
Nineveh was the deadliest province. Seven strikes hit the fourth regiment of Brigade 30 and the Directorate of Armored Combat at 3:20 a.m. local time. According to 964 Media, the Nineveh Operations Command confirmed eight members of Brigade 30 and two from the armored directorate were killed, with six others wounded.
Tag24 reported that AFP counted "at least 10" PMF members killed in Nineveh alone, making it the single deadliest location in the attack. Buildings and military equipment were also damaged in the strikes.
Seven Provinces Targeted in Sweeping Coordinated Attack
The strikes spread across Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala, and Diyala. That is a wide arc covering both northern and southern Iraq. 964 Media noted that multiple PMF headquarters were hit, with reports of damage to armored facilities and brigade command posts.
The breadth of the operation suggests a coordinated, multi-target mission rather than a single isolated strike. The PMF said the toll of 20 dead and 32 wounded was preliminary, and warned that numbers would climb as teams assessed damage on the ground.
First-Ever Acknowledged Saudi Military Strike Inside Iraq
This marks the first time Saudi Arabia has publicly acknowledged conducting a military operation inside Iraq. The joint US-Saudi nature of the strikes is notable — Saudi Arabia and Iraq share a border and have historically kept a cautious relationship. Tag24 described the operation as launched by "joint US-Saudi aggression," echoing PMF language.
Times of Israel noted the PMF is backed by Iran, giving the strikes a clear regional dimension. The US and Saudi Arabia have both opposed Iranian influence in Iraq. No official statement from Washington or Riyadh had been released at the time of initial reporting.
Baghdad Calls Emergency Session as Death Toll Climbs
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's emergency security meeting brought together Iraq's top national security officials. 964 Media reported the session was called in direct response to the strikes. Iraqi authorities stressed that casualty figures were preliminary and would likely rise.
The PMF is not just a militia — it is formally part of Iraq's state security apparatus. Strikes on its bases are legally strikes on Iraqi military infrastructure. That framing puts Baghdad in a difficult position, caught between its US ties and its Iranian-aligned security forces.
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