Saudi Arabia Joins Airstrikes on Iraq! Middle East Conflict Escalates Rapidly, The New York Times Says 'The Saudi Royal Family Doesn't Really Want to Fight'

As Middle East hostilities continue to spread, Saudi Arabia announced on the 29th that it had launched airstrikes against Iran-backed Iraqi militias, emphasizing the action was in 'retaliation for attacks on Saudi oil facilities.' The New York Times noted that while these airstrikes signify Saudi Arabia—the regional power—stepping from behind the scenes six months after the U.S.-Iran war began, the Saudi royal family 'does not really want to fight.' This highlights Riyadh's strategic dilemma: attempting to build deterrence while desperately avoiding entanglement in a regional war.

The July 29 airstrikes on Iraq mark the first time Saudi Arabia has publicly acknowledged participating in attacks on targets related to the U.S.-Iran war. The Iraqi National Security Council subsequently issued a statement condemning the airstrikes, saying they caused the deaths and injuries of many innocent civilians. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi publicly denounced Saudi Arabia's actions as 'unacceptable acts of aggression.' Despite launching cross-border strikes, Riyadh has worked hard to frame this operation as a limited retaliation against specific attacks, not as joining the U.S. and Israel in war against Iran.

Al Jazeera reported that the airstrikes were actually a joint operation by U.S. and Saudi forces. According to the U.S. Central Command, warplanes from both countries attacked supply bases and weapons depots of Iran-aligned militias in eastern Iraq within a 72-hour window, as this militia had launched over 30 drone attacks on U.S. military and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.

On July 29, 2026, a military base in Mosul, Iraq, was struck by airstrikes. (AP)

The Iran-backed Iraqi militia alliance, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), said the U.S.-Saudi offensive killed or injured several fighters and damaged buildings and infrastructure. Iraq's Shia Muslims, who make up about 60%, have traditionally close religious ties with Iran. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has recently been visiting both the U.S. and Iran in an effort to balance between the two. If the U.S. and Saudi Arabia continue airstrikes under the pretext of punishing Iran-aligned militias, the Middle East frontlines could expand uncontrollably.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated, 'While we strive to ease regional tensions, Iran-backed militias inside Iraq are foolishly provoking and escalating tensions. This violates international law and disregards the principles of Islamic brotherhood and good neighborly relations.' Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. General Turki al-Malki cited international law and the Quran, urging believers to 'retaliate in kind' against invaders. Maj. Gen. al-Malki emphasized, 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms it has no intention of escalating the situation, but will respond to any act of aggression.'

On July 30, 2026, mourners gathered in Najaf, Iraq, to grieve fighters killed in the airstrikes. (AP)

The New York Times pointed out that these statements reflect the dilemma Saudi Arabia has faced since the war began in February. When the U.S.-Iran conflict erupted, the peace of the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia's historic economic transformation plans faced devastating threats. Although Saudi Arabia and Iran have long been rivals, Riyadh had recently attempted to manage the Iranian threat through diplomacy—a strategy shattered by the war. As the conflict drags on, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Strait has severely damaged Saudi government revenues and strained relations between Riyadh and Washington.

A strategic rift has emerged between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. In retaliation for U.S. actions, Iran previously launched numerous missiles and drones at Gulf states hosting U.S. bases, with Saudi Arabia among the targets. The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has also carried out multiple attacks on Saudi territory and declared a blockade on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, leaving Saudi Arabia's external maritime routes dependent solely on the Suez Canal. With the Strait of Hormuz blocked and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait sealed, transporting oil to Asia has become extremely difficult for Saudi Arabia.

Abdulaziz Alghashian, senior non-resident fellow at the Washington-based Gulf International Forum, analyzed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have believed weakening Iran would bring political benefits to Saudi Arabia, but the prolonged war has severely damaged the kingdom's grand vision of transforming into a global commercial and tourism hub.

Alghashian argued that the Saudi leadership decided to make military actions public because their previous restraint had been misinterpreted by enemies as tacit approval of attacks. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is now sending a clear message to all its adversaries: 'Attacking Saudi Arabia comes at a cost.' Retired Saudi Air Force Brigadier General and defense analyst Faisal Al-Hamad stated bluntly that this move is about building deterrence and setting clear red lines to prevent future incursions.

Hasan Alhasan, senior Middle East policy researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), noted this is the first time Saudi Arabia has acknowledged conducting attacks on armed groups inside Iraq. Alhasan analyzed that the airstrikes themselves are a warning letter to Tehran—warning that if the situation escalates further, the Saudi royal family may strategically align more closely with the United States.

On July 27, 2026, satellite imagery showed thick smoke rising from the Saudi Aramco oil processing facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. (AP)