On July 29 the United States and Saudi Arabia launched a series of strikes against the Hashd throughout Iraq. Bases were hit in Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, Karbala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Wasit leading to the deaths of 20 Hashd members, the wounding of 32 along with 5 Iranian advisers being killed.
President Trump said that the attacks were coordinated with the Iraqi government, but Baghdad condemned the attack.
The Saudis claimed that Iraqi drones were launched against it on July 27 and 28. Riyad held a conference with Iraq providing evidence of pro-Iran groups being responsible before the operation. Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council made similar accusations.
The pro-Tehran Resistance gave Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi nine days to take action against the U.S. and Saudi Arabia while the Chief of Staff of the Hashd Abu Fadak said that the Resistance wouldn’t hand over their weapons to the government as a result of this incident. Fadak comes from Kataib Hezbollah which is one of the factions that refuses to disarm.
This puts Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in a very difficult situation. Baghdad has to condemn any attack upon its territory and the loss of life because it is a violation of its sovereignty. The Resistance and the Hashd are also part of the Coordination Framework which holds a majority in parliament. On the other hand, Zaidi doesn’t want his country to be drawn back into the Iran War by being used as a base for attacks upon the region because that will provoke military action by the United States and perhaps other Gulf States. That’s exactly what the Resistance and Iran are doing right now.
The premier has to walk a fine line between all these different groups to protect not only his nation but his government as well. It’s one thing to align with President Trump, demand the Resistance disarm and court U.S. investment. It’s another to have America bomb Iraq and kill and wound people. Zaidi has no political party of his own to support him so he could be severely weakened if things escalate militarily.
As with the Iran War in general the premier has limited options. Like his predecessors he has ordered investigations into drone attacks and threatened arrests. That has led to nothing as usual. If people were actually detained for drone strikes there would be a huge amount of political pressure to get them released. If Zaidi names the groups behind these incidents things would get worse. He also has no influence upon either Iran or the United States. He can only hope to garner enough political support amongst the ruling parties to get the Resistance to halt their drone activities while trying to appease Washington and Tehran.
SOURCES
Abdallah, Sakina, “Exclusive: Saudi Arabia Weighs Its Options as Drone Attacks from Iraq Persist,” Al Hurra, 7/29/26
Al Alam, “Dawn Shock Suspends Riyadh Visit: Did Airstrikes End the Iraq-Saudi “Honeymoon”?” 7/29/26
Al Arabiya, "Baghdad orders probe into drone attacks on Saudi Arabia launched from Iraqi territory,” 7/27/26
Kurdistan 24, “Five Iranian Advisers Killed in US-Saudi Strikes on Iraq’s PMF as Iran-Backed Militias Vow Retaliation," 7/29/26
- “Inside the Popular Mobilization Forces: Why Were Their Bases bombarded 165 Times in 2026?” 7/29/26
- “Trump Says US-Saudi Strikes on PMF Were Coordinated with Baghdad,” 7/29/26
Al Mada, “Drones Embarrass Baghdad: Who Attacked Saudi Arabia - Factions or “Ukraine”?” 7/29/26
Rudaw, "Iran-aligned umbrella group gives Baghdad ultimatum over US-Saudi strikes," 7/29/26
Shafaq News, “After the bombing of the Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters, Abu Fadak refuses to hand over the “resistance weapons” (video),” 7/29/26
Al Sumaria, “Details of the National Security Council meeting regarding the US-Saudi bombing of Iraq,” 7/29/26
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