Iraq is witnessing renewed tensions as U.S. and Saudi forces conducted coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran-affiliated militias within the country, further complicating the already fragile security landscape. At least 20 fighters linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of mostly Shiite militias with strong Iranian connections, were reported killed in the strikes early Wednesday, according to a PMF statement.
The PMF emerged in 2014 as a unified front to combat the extremist Islamic State group and includes a number of factions that receive military and financial support from Iran. Although some PMF units cooperated with the U.S.-led coalition during the fight against Islamic State militants, the alliance has since fractured amid competing regional influences. The PMF’s political influence grew as several of its leaders assumed government roles, yet the militias have never been fully integrated into Iraq’s official security forces and continue to operate with considerable autonomy.
The recent airstrikes by the United States and Saudi Arabia were framed as a response to a series of drone attacks allegedly orchestrated by Iran-backed groups against U.S. forces in the region and Saudi energy infrastructure. The U.S. Central Command stated that Iraqi militias, acting under Iran’s Revolutionary Guard directives, had launched over 30 drone strikes during the past week. However, none of the Iraqi militias have claimed responsibility for these attacks.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry emphasized that while it seeks to avoid escalation, the kingdom would respond decisively to any aggression. Among the targeted groups was the Badr Organization, one of the most influential militias within Iraq and closely linked to Tehran. The Badr Organization condemned the strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and urged Baghdad to take a firm stance against the attacks.
Iraq’s government also condemned the airstrikes, describing them as unacceptable breaches of national sovereignty and violations of international law. A government statement rejected the use of Iraqi territory as a platform for attacks against neighboring countries or for pursuing broader regional conflicts.
The recent escalation follows earlier incidents in late February when airstrikes, attributed to U.S. and Israeli forces, hit the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah, another prominent Iran-backed militia in Iraq. That attack resulted in multiple casualties and prompted threats of retaliation from Kataib Hezbollah and allied groups, who framed their actions as defending Iraq’s sovereignty and backing Iran. Since then, these militias have engaged in rocket and drone attacks targeting U.S. installations, including an assault on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Kataib Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for high-profile kidnappings, such as that of U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was released after a week in captivity.
Efforts by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who took office last April, to bring militias under tighter government control have so far seen limited success. Some of the most powerful Iran-aligned militias have resisted integration, continuing to wield independent authority that complicates Iraq’s sovereignty and security dynamics. With Iraq caught between U.S. and Iranian interests, the recent strikes underscore the country’s ongoing struggle to maintain stability amid competing regional influences.