The United States and Saudi Arabia conduct airstrikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed militant groups, multiple reports say, with casualty figures varying by source. The Hindu reports that at least 20 people are killed in the strikes, citing statements from former paramilitaries. Free Malaysia Today reports that at least 10 people die.
The two countries state that the strikes are carried out in response to attacks. They say the actions follow attacks on U.S. forces and on Saudi oil facilities. Free Malaysia Today adds that Saudi authorities report intercepting drones aimed at oil facilities in eastern areas, and that those drones are linked to Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq.
Neither report provides additional details on the exact locations of the strikes, the identities of those killed, or independent verification of the casualty numbers. The accounts nonetheless consistently describe a U.S.-Saudi military response tied to both attacks on U.S. personnel and threats to Saudi energy infrastructure, with Iran-backed militants named as the target.
