U.S. and Saudi strikes hit Iranian-backed forces in Iraq
CBS News reported U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched strikes in Iraq as CENTCOM said it stopped a surprise attack on regional forces.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
U.S. Saudi strikes in Iraq targeted Iranian-backed forces, CBS News reported, marking a new step in the expanding military action tied to Iran-aligned groups in the Middle East.
The strikes were carried out by the United States and Saudi Arabia against forces in Iraq described by CBS News as backed by Iran. CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang reported on the operation.
In a separate development, U.S. Central Command said the United States stopped what CENTCOM described as a surprise attack on forces in the Middle East, according to CBS News.
What happened in the U.S. and Saudi strikes in Iraq?
CBS News reported that the United States and Saudi Arabia launched strikes against Iranian-backed forces in Iraq. The report did not provide further details on the targets, the location inside Iraq, casualties or the weapons used.
The Saudi role is the key new element in the report. CBS News described the move as Saudi Arabia joining U.S. attacks on Iran-backed proxies in Iraq, while another CBS News video headline described the strikes as a ramp-up of Middle East action.
An Iranian-backed force is a group that receives support from Iran, though the exact nature of that support can vary by case. A proxy force generally refers to an armed group acting in line with another power’s interests while remaining separate from that state’s regular military.
What did CENTCOM say?
According to CBS News, CENTCOM said the U.S. stopped what it called a surprise attack on forces in the Middle East. The report did not identify which forces were targeted, where the alleged attack was stopped or who CENTCOM said was behind it.
CENTCOM is the U.S. military command responsible for operations across much of the Middle East. Its statement, as reported by CBS News, places the prevented attack in the same broad regional conflict as the U.S. and Saudi strikes.
What is still unclear?
- CBS News did not report the number of strikes launched by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
- The report did not name the Iranian-backed forces targeted in Iraq.
- No casualty figures were provided.
- The report did not include responses from Iran, Iraq or Saudi Arabia.
- CENTCOM’s account of the stopped surprise attack was not detailed in the report beyond its broad description.
The developments come as CBS News framed the military action as an escalation involving U.S. forces, Saudi Arabia and Iranian-backed groups in Iraq. More details from CENTCOM or regional governments would be needed to clarify the scope and impact of the strikes.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.