Badr chief urges Iraqi factions to postpone Saudi retaliation
10:42, 07/08/2026, FridayU: Update: 10:48, 07/08/2026, Friday
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File photoHadi al-Amiri, head of the Badr Organization, called on allied paramilitary factions to postpone any retaliatory attacks against Saudi Arabia following recent US-Saudi strikes on Popular Mobilization Forces positions, urging restraint to protect Iraq's highest national interests.
Hadi al-Amiri, who leads the Badr Organization and serves as a senior commander in Iraq's Iranian-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), called on allied factions Wednesday to "postpone any response" to what he termed "American-Saudi aggression on Iraq," urging restraint to safeguard the country's stability amid mounting regional tensions.
In a video statement circulated by Iraqi media outlets, Amiri stressed the need for disciplined action during this critical period. He called on groups "to exercise restraint for the sake of Iraq's highest interests," warning that immediate military retaliation could undermine Baghdad's diplomatic standing and draw the nation deeper into cross-border proxy conflicts.
July 29 Military Operation
The conciliatory appeal follows a deadly July 29 assault when US and Saudi forces conducted coordinated strikes against PMF headquarters across Iraq. More than 20 fighters were killed and at least 30 others wounded in the operation, which targeted facilities belonging to the powerful Shia paramilitary umbrella group long viewed as an extension of Iranian influence in Baghdad.
Paramilitary Structure
The PMF represents the largest consolidation of Shia armed groups in Iraq, having formed initially to combat Daesh before evolving into a permanent state-sponsored force with significant political and military clout. The Badr Organization operates as the largest constituent faction within the alliance, with Amiri maintaining close ties to Tehran while holding considerable sway in Iraqi parliamentary politics and security policy.
