WASHINGTON — U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday that U.S. and Saudi Arabian forces carried out coordinated precision strikes against Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq after what it described as a series of attempted attacks on U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
CENTCOM said the joint operation targeted logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq on July 28, adding that the strikes were conducted in response to more than 30 drone attacks over the previous 72 hours. The U.S. military said the attempted attacks on U.S. forces were unsuccessful.
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said the operation followed recent drone attacks targeting oil facilities in the kingdom, which Riyadh attributed to Iran-backed groups operating from Iraqi territory. The ministry said the strikes were carried out in coordination with U.S. forces and described them as an act of self-defense under international law.
There was no immediate response from Iran to the U.S. military statement. Independent verification of the identities of those targeted or the extent of damage was not immediately available.
The operation marks a further escalation in regional tensions following recent exchanges involving Iran, U.S. forces and allied partners. CENTCOM said Iran-aligned groups had carried out hundreds of attempted attacks against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq earlier this year and warned that further attacks could prompt additional military action.
No official casualty figures were released by the U.S. military. The situation remained fluid, with additional details expected as authorities continue to assess the outcome of the operation.
