Daijiworld Media Network - Baghdad

Baghdad, Aug 8: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of pro-Iranian militias, has postponed a planned retaliatory attack against US and Saudi forces following appeals from Shiite political leaders.

In a statement, the group said it had decided to delay the retaliation in response to calls from Shiite political figures.

The group had earlier demanded that the Iraqi government take firm diplomatic or security measures over joint US-Saudi airstrikes on July 29 that targeted positions belonging to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition dominated by Shiite militias. The strikes reportedly killed 20 people.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq had threatened to launch retaliatory attacks if the government failed to take an official position against the strikes. The deadline set by the group expired on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia had said on July 27 that it intercepted drones launched from Iraq that attempted to target its oil facilities.

In response, Saudi Arabia and the United States carried out airstrikes against several positions used by pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Washington has long sought to curb the activities of Iran-aligned armed groups in the country.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck several logistics and weapons sites used by the groups. It said the operation was carried out in response to aerial attacks conducted over the previous 72 hours under the direction of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

CENTCOM did not identify the groups targeted or disclose the exact locations of the strikes, saying only that the attacks took place across eastern Iraq. It also did not provide details on casualties or the extent of the damage.

CENTCOM said Iran-aligned militias in Iraq had attempted more than 600 attacks against US citizens and facilities between February and April 2026.

The Iraqi government, however, said no evidence had been provided to establish that the drones targeting Saudi territory had been launched from Iraqi soil.