US-Saudi airstrikes targeting Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces have killed at least 20 fighters, pushing the regional conflict into uncharted territory, according to Middle East analysts. The military action, which prompted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to cancel a planned meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, marks Riyadh’s first overt involvement in direct strikes against Iran-backed militias.
Saudi Arabia Joins US Strikes as Regional Tensions Intensify
Riyadh’s public entry into the campaign against the Popular Mobilisation Forces—also known as al-Hashd al-Shaabi—breaks a previous pattern where Saudi Arabia reportedly limited its participation to secretive operations, according to regional reporting. The escalation follows a week after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a blockade of Saudi ports at the Red Sea entrance. According to Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, countries in the region are interpreting the chaotic context of the conflict as a historic opportunity to weaken Iran. HA Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that Saudi Arabia wants to signal to Tehran that Gulf Arab states will actively respond to provocations rather than remain passive.
Iraqi Political Backlash and Militia Threats
In Baghdad, the Iraqi presidency condemned the air raids as a blatant violation of sovereignty targeting official institutions. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi canceled his diplomatic trip to Jeddah following the strikes. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed militia Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba stated that Washington and Riyadh’s security and interests would face consequences. In Mosul, mourners carried the bodies of slain fighters in body bags out of a hospital while shouting Shia sectarian slogans and chanting “Death to America!”, according to on-the-ground reports. The Popular Mobilisation Forces were originally established in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group under the oversight of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, who was killed in a 2020 US missile strike in Baghdad.
Infrastructure Impacts Reach the Mediterranean
The conflict’s widening scope reached the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday when explosions hit a natural gas loading port in Damietta, Egypt, in the first reported strike on Egyptian territory during the war. British maritime security company Ambrey reported that a US-owned floating storage tanker was hit by a drone at the port. Simultaneously, Iran launched missiles at US military installations in Jordan in its first regional attack since a brief pause in direct US strikes. US President Donald Trump stated that the US would hit Iran hard while asserting that the strikes in Iraq were coordinated with the Baghdad government, despite official Iraqi condemnation.
Did you know? The Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) were formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group.
Analysts Warn of Unpredictable Trajectories
Analysts emphasize that predicting the outcome of these retaliatory cycles is nearly impossible because Tehran views the conflict through the lens of existential survival. According to Sanam Vakil, Iran’s unpredictable tactics aim to pressure the US into confrontation or concession to maintain a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. HA Hellyer warned that while Riyadh may view the strike on the PMF as a precisely calculated measure, anticipating Tehran’s next move remains out of reach as Iran seeks to dramatically reset regional rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF)?
The PMF, or al-Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella network of mostly Shia armed factions in Iraq established in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group.
Why did Iraq cancel diplomatic talks with Saudi Arabia?
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi canceled his scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah after US-Saudi airstrikes killed at least 20 PMF fighters in Iraq.
How has the conflict expanded geographically?
Beyond Iraq, the war has seen drone strikes hit a natural gas loading port in Damietta, Egypt, missile attacks targeting US installations in Jordan, and Houthi blockades affecting Red Sea shipping lanes near Saudi ports.
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