Iraq calls emergency security meeting after US-Saudi airstrikes

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an emergency session of the Ministerial Council for National Security after overnight US-Saudi airstrikes in Iraq, as Baghdad moved to assess the security situation following the latest escalation. The meeting comes after coordinated strikes targeted sites linked to Iran-backed armed groups, further heightening tensions across the region.

Baghdad responds to overnight strikes

According to Iraq's Security Media Cell, al-Zaidi, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, instructed senior security officials to gather immediately in response to what it described as the country's latest security developments and the aerial attacks carried out before dawn. The statement said the government will release a detailed briefing after the meeting outlining its assessment and any decisions taken.

US and Saudi Arabia explain operation

The emergency meeting follows an announcement by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which said American and Saudi forces conducted precision strikes against facilities used by Iran-aligned groups in eastern Iraq. According to CENTCOM, the operation targeted logistics and weapons sites after more than 30 drone attacks allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure over a 72-hour period.

PMF reports casualties and damage

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition composed largely of Iran-backed Shiite armed groups, said several of its headquarters were hit during the airstrikes. The organization reported deaths, injuries and significant property damage but did not immediately provide a confirmed casualty figure. The PMF condemned the attacks, while Iraqi authorities continue to evaluate the broader security implications of the operation.

Regional tensions remain high

The latest developments underscore growing instability in the Middle East, where Iraq continues to face the challenge of balancing internal security with escalating regional rivalries. Baghdad's emergency consultations are expected to shape the government's response as tensions involving the United States, Iran and their regional allies continue to intensify.