Yemeni Houthis may have carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia this week from Iraqi territory in coordination with Iran-linked Iraqi armed groups. Two regional officials told Reuters, reports UNN.
Details
According to them, some of the strikes on oil infrastructure in eastern Saudi Arabia were carried out from Iraqi territory under the coordination of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These assessments differ from the official versions of the conflict parties.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia, together with the US, carried out airstrikes on targets in Iraq that Riyadh said were linked to the attacks. Saudi authorities officially blamed Iran-backed Iraqi groups, while the Houthis claimed they carried out the attacks. Iraq announced the launch of an investigation.
Analysts speak of increased coordination among Iran's allies
As Reuters notes, the agency's interlocutors believe these events indicate deepening cooperation among groups of the so-called "Axis of Resistance" supported by Iran.
Chatham House research fellow Farea al-Muslimi said there is now direct coordination and mutual training among Iran's allies, not just interaction through Tehran.
According to Reuters, the Houthis and Iraqi groups have been cooperating for several years. In 2024, they announced the creation of a joint operations room, and later claimed to have conducted their first joint operation against Israel. Analysts also believe that after the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Iraq has become a key coordination hub for Iran-backed forces in the region.
US and Saudi Arabia struck Iranian proxy forces in Iraq29.07.26, 08:55