A Reuters report citing multiple Iraqi sources says the IRGC established secret cells in Iraq, bypassing established militia networks, that carried out at least seven drone attacks from southern Iraq targeting Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia during the recent conflict.
A Reuters investigation, citing multiple Iraqi sources, now reports that the IRGC's covert cells in Iraq executed at least seven drone attacks targeting Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia from desert locations in southern Iraq. This development, first reported by The Zioneer at Fri 09:29 Jerusalem based on a single Iranian source, has been corroborated by a second news organization, though the latest report still attributes the drone-strike claims to unnamed Iraqi sources rather than providing independent verification.
As The Zioneer reported on Fri 09:29 Jerusalem, an initial unverified report described the establishment of secret IRGC cells in Iraq operating through known militia groups, carrying out seven suicide drone attacks between April and May. A second version of that report, also published at Fri 09:29 Jerusalem, specified that the cells operated under direct IRGC command and were separate from the known militia network. The current Reuters investigation now confirms the existence of such cells with multiple Iraqi sources, adding that they bypassed established militia networks entirely and reported directly to the IRGC.
A broader context documented by The Zioneer over the past two weeks includes a series of IRGC threats and claims against Gulf states — including a threat issued on Sun Jun 7, 00:14 Jerusalem, warning Gulf nations against hosting US bases; an unverified claim on Mon Jun 8, 10:32 Jerusalem, of missiles fired at Riyadh; and a claim on Thu Jun 11, 10:10 Jerusalem, of strikes on five military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The new Reuters report specifically ties the covert cells to drone attacks on Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, aligning with several of those prior claims.
What remains unverified: the precise timeline of the seven attacks, the specific targets hit and any damage inflicted, and whether the cells remain operational. The report's sourcing remains attributed to unnamed Iraqi officials, with no on-the-record confirmation from the targeted Gulf states or independent military monitors. The cells' relationship to earlier IRGC claims of strikes on Kuwaiti bases — such as the Ali al-Salem base claim on Wed Jun 10, 05:14 Jerusalem — also remains unclear.
2 developments
- DevelopingIRGC claims drone strike on Ali al-Salem base in Kuwait
- StrongIRGC claims it struck five military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain
- DevelopingShiite sources claim downing of multiple US drones over Iraq overnight
- ConfirmedDrone observed over Iraq heading toward Erbil; air defenses in Bahrain, Kuwait not activated — reports
Source and signal
- Internal intake