Riyadh, July 30: Saudi Arabia has abandoned months of restraint and joined U.S. forces in airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq after coming under sustained attacks from multiple fronts, according to regional reports.
The kingdom had sought to prevent a broader regional conflict despite Iranian drone attacks over the past five months. However, continued strikes by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iran-aligned militias in Iraq prompted Riyadh to launch retaliatory operations early Tuesday.
The Houthis have targeted Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast and attacked commercial shipping, while also declaring a naval blockade that threatens Saudi energy exports to Asia. Analysts say the group’s strategy resembles North Korea’s pattern of using military provocations to gain political and economic concessions.
Meanwhile, Iran-backed militias in Iraq carried out a series of drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including targets near Riyadh, on Monday and Tuesday. In response, Saudi warplanes, operating alongside U.S. forces, struck militia positions in eastern Iraq. Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces reported casualties from the attacks.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described the joint operation as a strong response to more than 30 drone attacks allegedly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Saudi Arabia remains under growing financial and security pressure, with rising military spending and a widening budget deficit. Analysts warn that Riyadh also faces increasing strategic uncertainty over future U.S. support and regional diplomatic tensions, leaving the kingdom with difficult security choices.
