Iraq denied any advance knowledge or approval of joint US-Saudi strikes on its territory. Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi made the statement on state television on July 30.
US and Saudi forces carried out the strikes on July 29. The attacks hit positions linked to Iran-backed groups within the Popular Mobilisation Forces across multiple Iraqi provinces. The operations killed at least 20 militants, including five Iranians, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi alliance.
Haider al-Aboudi said the government did not have any knowledge of the strikes. He added that Iraq did not approve any attacks on specific sites or groups in its territory. Aboudi spoke after an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi suspended his expected visit to Saudi Arabia. Officials linked the decision directly to the strikes. Zaidi came to power earlier in 2026 with US support and had vowed to disarm pro-Iran factions.
US President Donald Trump claimed the strikes occurred in coordination with the Iraqi government. A Fox News correspondent reported the statement after speaking with Trump. Iraqi officials directly disputed this account and demanded evidence.
Saudi Arabia said it launched the strikes after intercepting drones that targeted its oil facilities. Riyadh blamed Iran-backed groups in Iraq. Iraqi officials stated their investigations found no evidence to support those claims. They called on Saudi Arabia to share intelligence for verification.
Pro-Iran armed groups under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied launching attacks on Saudi Arabia. They warned that their response to the strikes remained inevitable. The incidents highlighted ongoing tensions as Iraq balances relations with Washington and Tehran.
