Iraq ordered its air defences and intelligence operations strengthened on Friday after US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militia targets, as a Saudi official said the operation was aimed only at the militias and not the Iraqi state.
Government spokesman Sabah al-Numan said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi issued immediate orders to raise alertness and readiness to the maximum across all camps and bases, particularly the official bases of the armed forces and the Hashed al-Shaabi. Rebuilding and modernising air defence is a top priority, he said, including speeding up plans to equip and arm modern radar, early-detection and air defence systems.
The strikes, which were deadly, hit bases belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi – an armed Iraqi alliance integrated into the military but which includes powerful groups known for acting unilaterally.
Speaking to Al Arabiya on Friday, a senior Saudi official said the operation targeted militia military warehouses linked to recent drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities and critical infrastructure. The official said the strikes came only after all diplomatic and political avenues had been exhausted and after Saudi Arabia had shown restraint over recent months.
The official said the Iran-backed militias were harming Iraq's interests by using its territory and resources to attack neighbouring states, and dismissed attempts by some parties inside and outside Iraq to inflame sectarian tensions.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced that its armed forces, in coordination with the US Central Command, carried out precision strikes against Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq. Saudi authorities said the operation followed drone attacks intercepted by the Kingdom's air defences earlier this week targeting oil installations in the Eastern Province and the Riyadh region. They reiterated that Saudi Arabia does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression.