US Central Command says American and Saudi fighter jets struck sites across eastern Iraq

The Associated Press reported in the early hours of Wednesday, 29 July 2026 (7 Mordad 1405), citing the US military, that American and Saudi forces had struck sites used by Iran-aligned groups in Iraq to carry out attacks.

US Central Command said in a statement that American and Saudi fighter aircraft hit "multiple logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq" in response to more than 30 aerial drone attacks which, according to the command, were directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over the previous 72 hours against US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said the kingdom "does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression against it". It is the first time Riyadh has claimed responsibility for strikes on Iraqi soil since the war began.

According to Al Mayadeen, as relayed by Mehr News Agency, several military sites were hit in the al-Dayr area of Basra province and the al-Suwayrah area of Wasit province, and the Popular Mobilisation Forces operations command in Basra confirmed its own headquarters was struck at 2:00 local time. No figures for damage or casualties have been released so far. Iraq is the leading destination for Iran's non-oil exports, and the widening of the conflict onto Iraqi territory and toward Persian Gulf energy infrastructure feeds into the risk premium in world oil prices and expectations in Iran's domestic currency market.