Iraq issues a statement condemning the Saudi-American strike on the Popular Mobilization Forces

Iraq condemned the joint American-Saudi attacks that targeted the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces at dawn on Wednesday, while affirming its work to develop a security plan to confront any violation of the country’s sovereignty, and to move forward with implementing the international coalition’s withdrawal agreement from Iraq. Following a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, the Media Office of the Prime Minister in Iraq published a statement in which the Council “expressed its denunciation and condemnation of this attack.”

The statement indicated that the attack came "at a time when the Iraqi government was communicating with the concerned parties to verify and address everything raised by the Saudi and American sides regarding targeting Saudi territory." The Council decided, according to the statement, “to develop an integrated security plan to control the territory to confront any violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, and to prevent any source from working to threaten neighboring countries.”

The Council indicated "continuing to implement the security agreement for the withdrawal of the international coalition at the end of September 2026 and completing the procedures for the plan to limit weapons to the state." The Council directed the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter “to document the situation and establish Iraq’s legitimate rights.”

The statement affirmed "the government's firm position rejecting all hostile actions, regardless of the party implementing them or the justifications based on them, stressing that dealing with and confronting such attacks is the exclusive responsibility of the Iraqi government and the constitutional state institutions alone." The Iraqi government called on "all parties not to be drawn into paths that will exacerbate the state of instability in the region and undermine the law enforcement plan that the government has adopted since assuming responsibility."

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump pledged revenge after the Iranian missile attack that was intercepted by US forces, noting that Washington coordinated with the Iraqis before joint strikes with Saudi Arabia targeting the Popular Mobilization Forces. The Popular Mobilization Forces are part of the official security forces in Iraq, and Iran has increasingly worked to co-opt them to enhance its influence in the neighboring country. These forces are mostly composed of Shiite paramilitary factions.

The US Central Command (Centcom) announced at dawn on Wednesday that US and Saudi forces carried out air strikes in Iraq against "pro-Iranian terrorists who were directed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to attack US forces and the Saudi energy infrastructure." Centcom said in a statement: “American and Saudi fighter jets launched raids on logistical sites and weapons sites belonging to terrorists in eastern Iraq, in a strong response to more than 30 air attacks with drones, carried out by the Revolutionary Guard during the past 72 hours. These unprovoked attacks against American forces were unsuccessful.”