Iraqi regional security and sovereignty crisis
The developments in this story so far, most recent first.
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· date approximate Development
Iraqi PM orders measures to prevent attacks against neighbors
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· date approximate Background
US and Saudi Arabia carried out coordinated strikes on Iran-backed groups' sites in seven Iraqi provinces.
In mid-2026, the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out coordinated strikes on logistics sites and weapons depots belonging to Iran-backed groups across seven Iraqi provinces. According to the US and Saudi Arabia, these strikes were a response to drone attacks that had targeted military bases and oil facilities in the region.
The operations resulted in casualties among Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), with reports stating that 20 members were killed and 32 others were wounded. Baghdad condemned the strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and denied that any Iraqi authorities had approved or coordinated the military action.
In response to the situation, Iraqi Prime Minister and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Ali Al-Zaydi, ordered new security measures. This directive aimed to prevent attacks or threats against neighboring countries from originating within Iraqi territory, following a meeting that affirmed the readiness of Iraq's armed forces to thwart such attempts.