Key facts
- Iraq has ordered its air defences and intelligence activities to be bolstered.
- Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi issued orders to raise alertness and readiness to the maximum across all camps and bases.
- Rebuilding and modernizing air defence capabilities is a top priority for Iraq.
- US and Saudi Arabia carried out strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
- The strikes were in response to militia attacks on Saudi Arabia and the Kurdistan Region.
Iraq has ordered a significant enhancement of its air defence systems and overall military readiness following joint strikes by the United States and Saudi Arabia against Iranian-backed militias. The strikes, which occurred on July 28, targeted bases belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi armed alliance integrated into the national forces but containing groups known for unilateral actions.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi issued strict and immediate orders to maximize alertness and readiness across all military camps and bases, particularly those of the armed forces and the Hashed al-Shaabi. A government spokesperson, Sabah al-Numan, stated that rebuilding and modernizing air defence capabilities, including radar and early-detection systems, is a top priority. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the strikes were a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks in the preceding 72 hours, which targeted Saudi Arabia and the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq. CENTCOM also noted more than 600 attempted attacks on US citizens and facilities by Iran-aligned militias between February and April 2026.
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reported that at least 20 of its members were killed in the retaliatory strikes. The PMF is a coalition of primarily Shiite, Iran-backed armed groups that fought against the Islamic State group and are officially part of Iraq's security forces, though many factions operate autonomously. Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr condemned both the US and Saudi attacks and the actions of the militias. Prime Minister al-Zaidi convened an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security in the wake of the strikes. Several prominent Iraqi politicians and entities, including the office of the President and former Prime Ministers, condemned the US and Saudi actions. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias, stated it would meet to discuss a response.