• Saudi and Kuwaiti warplanes struck Iran-linked militia targets inside Iraq, according to people familiar with the matter.
  • The strikes were in retaliation for drone and missile attacks on Gulf infrastructure, including oil facilities.
  • The escalation follows U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and threatens to destabilize Iraq further.

Cross-Border Retaliation

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in western Iraq late Wednesday, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the operation. The strikes targeted positions of Kata'ib Hezbollah and other groups accused of launching repeated drone and missile attacks on the two Gulf states over the past month.

“These were defensive strikes aimed at removing the imminent threat posed by these proxies,” a Gulf official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We have exhausted diplomatic channels. This is a clear message that attacks on our soil will not be tolerated.”

The Saudi and Kuwaiti air forces struck at least half a dozen sites, including ammunition depots and command centers near the border with Syria. The strikes come a day after a rocket attack from Kuwait into Iraq, which local officials attributed to a faction of the Popular Mobilization Forces. No casualties have been reported in the Gulf states, but Iraqi paramilitary groups said at least 12 fighters were killed.

Iraq’s government condemned the airstrikes as a violation of its sovereignty and summoned the Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors for talks. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who has struggled to rein in the militias, faces mounting pressure to respond. “This is a dangerous escalation that threatens to turn Iraq into a battleground,” a senior Iraqi official told reporters.

The strikes mark a significant widening of the conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Since then, Iran-backed groups across the region have stepped up attacks on Gulf states and Red Sea shipping. The Saudi-led coalition had previously avoided direct strikes on Iraqi soil, preferring to target militia assets in Syria and Yemen.

Market reaction was swift: Brent crude jumped 3% to $89 a barrel on fears of supply disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil passes, remains a flashpoint. “Any sustained escalation in the Gulf raises the risk premium on every barrel,” said an oil analyst at a major trading house.

Efforts to de-escalate have so far failed. U.S. and European diplomats have shuttled between Riyadh, Baghdad, and Tehran, but without a breakthrough. “The Iranians are testing our limits, and the Gulf states are running out of patience,” said a Western diplomat familiar with the talks.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the number of militia fatalities. The figure has been updated to 12 based on new information from Iraqi security sources.