According to an analysis by The Zioneer, Saudi Arabia conducted strikes overnight on targets in Iraq described as the 'Iraqi Army' but which the analysis assesses are actually Iranian-backed Shia militias. The report comes as Saudi Arabia faces attacks from the south by Houthi forces and from the north by Shia militias from Iraq, framing the escalation as a renewed Sunni-Shia conflict.
The Zioneer reported at 08:56 Jerusalem that Saudi Arabia's overnight strikes in Iraq targeted positions officially described as the 'Iraqi Army' but which the analysis assesses are actually Iranian-backed Shia militias. The analysis frames the attack as part of a broader escalation in which Saudi Arabia is under fire from Houthi forces in the south and Shia militias from Iraqi territory to the north, characterizing the conflict as a return of the Sunni-Shia regional war. This interpretation comes after earlier reports this morning had already identified the targets as Iran-linked militias.
At 07:17 Jerusalem, initial reports emerged of joint US-Saudi strikes against pro-Iranian militia targets in Iraq. Within the same hour, U.S. Central Command confirmed that American and Saudi fighter jets conducted precision strikes on logistics and weapons storage sites of Iran-linked terror organizations, in response to over 30 drone attacks directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Abu Ali Express further reported that the strikes hit seven Hashd al-Shaabi militia positions across Iraq, killing at least 10 operatives. The Zioneer analysis adds a new layer by noting that the Saudi government's official description of the targets as 'Iraqi Army' masked their true nature as Shia militias, a distinction that was not present in the earlier reports.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, Iranian-backed Iraqi Shia militias have increasingly joined Houthi forces in striking Saudi energy infrastructure, with Saudi air defenses intercepting drones launched from Iraqi territory. The Houthis have continued their ballistic missile and drone campaign against Saudi airbases and oil facilities. The analysis' claim of a Saudi strike on Iraqi militia targets—whether unilateral or joint—represents a direct escalation of Riyadh's military response against the northern front of the 'Axis of Resistance.'
The analysis is based on a single source and has not been independently confirmed. The specific targets, extent of damage, and whether the operation was conducted solely by Saudi forces or jointly with the U.S. remain unclear. The Saudi government has not yet commented on the nature of the targeted sites.
9 developments
- DevelopingIraqi militia umbrella organization reports casualties from strikes, threatens 'Yemeni-style' revenge on Saudi Arabia
- DevelopingReports: Iranian-backed militias drone-strike US bases in northern Iraq
- StrongIranian Health Ministry Spokesperson Confirms 38 Dead, Over 400 Wounded in US Strikes
- StrongReport: 3 killed, 15 wounded in Sirik, southern Iran, from overnight attacks
Source and signal
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