Iran condemns US-Saudi strikes on pro-Iran militias in Iraq as 'inhumane provocation'

Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the United States and Saudi Arabia for striking pro-Iran militias in Iraq.

In a statement Wednesday (local time), the ministry claimed the US-Saudi strikes had targeted facilities and positions owned by Iraqi government institutions, as well as areas near the Arbaeen pilgrimage zone. It sharply criticized the attacks as "a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law," adding that they revealed "the ambitions of the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel) to expand war and conflict in West Asia."

The ministry also expressed condolences to the Iraqi people killed in the airstrikes and reaffirmed "Iran's full support and solidarity with the Iraqi government and people," warning that "all responsibility for the dangerous consequences of these inhumane provocative acts lies with the US government and its regional accomplices."

Earlier, US Central Command said on X (formerly Twitter) that it had carried out precision strikes alongside Saudi forces against "Iran-affiliated terrorists" directed to attack US and Saudi energy infrastructure on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry also said in a statement that it had conducted "limited and targeted strikes" together with the United States against pro-Iran military groups in Iraq linked to attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

The Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi, PMF), an Iraqi Shia militia coalition, said in a statement shortly after the strikes that at least 20 of its members had been killed and 32 wounded. Foreign media reported that the dead included four to six Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps military advisers.

Armed factions under the PMF also condemned the US-Saudi strikes and vowed retaliation.

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba warned that US and Saudi interests and security would face the consequences of the joint strikes. Kataib Hezbollah, another pro-Iran armed group, threatened to target US "tools" in Saudi Arabia in response to the joint strikes, and added that the Iraqi government had until Aug. 6, to prove it was capable of defending its own sovereignty.

US President Donald Trump said the strikes on pro-Iran militias in Iraq had been coordinated with the Iraqi government. Following the US-Saudi strikes, the Iraqi government declared it would defend national sovereignty and prevent its territory from being used to threaten neighboring countries.

Iraq's National Security Council said in a statement that it had decided to adopt "a comprehensive security plan to strengthen control over the entire country, confront sovereignty violations, and block all parties using Iraqi territory to threaten neighboring countries."