CENTCOM announced that American and Saudi fighter jets conducted strikes against Shia militia targets in eastern and northern Iraq, describing the militias as supported and directed by Iran. The operation follows a wave of joint strikes reported earlier this morning.
CENTCOM announced early Wednesday that American and Saudi fighter jets struck Shia militia targets in eastern and northern Iraq, expanding the joint operation beyond the eastern regions hit earlier this morning. The militias are described as backed by Iran and receiving orders from Tehran.
The strikes follow a rapid sequence of developments reported by The Zioneer this morning. At 05:22 Jerusalem, analyst Chananel Aviv reported unverified Saudi strikes in Baghdad. CENTCOM then confirmed joint US-Saudi strikes in central and southern Iraq, stating that 30 pro-Iranian militia targets had been hit. The military later confirmed that one person was killed in an explosion at a militia ammunition depot in Basra, attributed to the airstrikes. The latest announcement from CENTCOM extends the operation to northern Iraq, marking a geographic escalation.
The operation is part of a broader US-led campaign against Iranian-backed forces, as The Zioneer reported earlier this week. US fighter jets have struck targets across Iran, including IRGC bases and missile sites, in response to over 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks in the preceding 72 hours. The joint US-Saudi strikes in Iraq are a direct response to militia attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and US forces.
CENTCOM has not provided specific details on the targets struck in northern Iraq or a damage assessment. The full scope of the operation and any casualties remain unclear.
6 developments
- StrongStrike on Nineveh Plains in Iraq leaves wounded, analyst reports
- StrongIranian state TV reports 8 killed in US strikes on Bandar Abbas and Bushehr
- StrongUS strikes targeted five Iranian provinces, Health Ministry says, confirming 14 dead, 78 wounded
- StrongUS strikes on military base in Isfahan province kill and wound several, deputy governor says
Source and signal
- Open-source intake