The Associated Press reports that six Iranian military advisors were killed in the joint U.S.-Saudi airstrikes in Iraq, citing two Iraqi sources. AP notes it is unclear whether the six are among the previously reported fighters killed or additional casualties.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday evening that six Iranian military advisors were killed in the joint U.S.-Saudi airstrikes, citing two Iraqi sources. The report adds specific attribution to the previously unconfirmed casualty figure, though AP noted it remains unclear whether the six are among the 20+ militia fighters already reported killed or are additional casualties. The strikes, which hit seven Hashd al-Shaabi positions across Iraq, were described by CENTCOM as a response to over 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks in the previous 72 hours.
Early Wednesday morning at 03:25 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported unverified claims that six Iranian advisors had been killed. At the same time, Hashd al-Shaabi announced that 20 of its fighters were killed and 32 wounded in strikes across eight provinces, while CENTCOM confirmed the operation. The militias subsequently published photographs of slain members and threatened 'Yemeni-style' revenge against Saudi Arabia. The casualty count has thus evolved from initial unverified reports to a militia-confirmed toll of 20 fighters, and now to AP-sourced confirmation of advisor casualties.
The joint U.S.-Saudi operation, which involved Saudi fighter jets, marks a significant shift in Saudi national security doctrine, as The Zioneer reported earlier. The strikes are part of a broader escalation between the U.S. and Iran, which has included U.S. strikes on Iranian military assets in southern Iran (as The Zioneer reported on July 8) and a mounting toll of U.S. service members wounded in Iranian attacks. The Pentagon recently reported 22 U.S. service members killed and 764 wounded since the start of the direct conflict.
It remains unclear whether the six Iranian advisors are among the previously reported militia casualties or are additional. The total number of Iranian military personnel deployed in Iraq and the full scope of casualties from the strikes have not been independently verified.
15 developments
- DevelopingReport: IRGC Basij commander killed in missile attack on base in Shiraz
- DevelopingUnverified report: U.S. strike kills IRGC chief at underground command center
- DevelopingReport: IRGC member involved in protest crackdown killed in Bandar Abbas attack
- DevelopingIranian sources: IRGC air defense officer killed in US strikes on Tabriz
Source and signal
- Open-source intake