Lead:
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday that the kingdom's armed forces, in coordination with the U.S. Central Command, conducted precision strikes against targets belonging to Iran-aligned militias in Iraqi territory. The action followed multiple attempts by these groups to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern Province. Regional allies including Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, and the Gulf Cooperation Council have issued statements of solidarity with Riyadh, characterizing the strikes as lawful self-defense operations.
Details:
According to official Saudi statements carried by multiple regional news sources, Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki, the official Defense Ministry spokesperson, confirmed that the armed forces struck specific militia targets on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 (corresponding to 15 Safar 1448 in the Islamic calendar). The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a parallel statement asserting that the strikes were undertaken "in exercise of the right of self-defense" under international law in response to ongoing threats to national security infrastructure.
The U.S. Central Command independently announced that American and Saudi forces jointly executed aerial operations targeting what it described as "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq. This marks an escalation in regional tensions following a pattern of unmanned aerial vehicle attacks directed at Saudi oil installations over preceding days. The Defense Ministry reported successful interception and destruction of multiple drones attempted to strike petroleum facilities in both the Riyadh and Eastern Province regions.
Regional diplomatic responses have been swift and largely supportive. Bahrain's Foreign Ministry condemned the "repeated terrorist attempts" and affirmed full support for Saudi defensive measures. The UAE similarly denounced the attacks as aggressive and declared solidarity with the kingdom. Egypt's government stated strong condemnation of attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and separate assaults affecting Jordan. The Gulf Cooperation Council's Secretary General Jassem Muhammad Al-Budaiwi issued a statement expressing support for Saudi Arabia and condemning the continuation of attacks attributed to Iranian-aligned militias.
In parallel diplomatic developments, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conducted a telephone conversation with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, during which Sanchez condemned attacks by Houthi militias. Crown Prince Mohammed also chaired a Council of Ministers session in Jeddah addressing the situation, with the council formally denouncing the attacks in "the strongest terms."
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