The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out coordinated air strikes on Iran-backed militia in Iraq early Wednesday, saying the operation was a response to drone attacks on US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.

Later, in a statement, Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) reported casualties and damage at several of its headquarters.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American and Saudi fighter jets conducted “precision strikes” on multiple logistics and weapons sites used by Iran-aligned groups in eastern Iraq after more than 30 drone attacks over the past 72 hours targeting US positions and Saudi petroleum facilities.

“The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response,” CENTCOM said, blaming Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for directing the attacks.

Saudi Arabia confirmed it had joined the operation, saying the strikes were launched after air defences intercepted drones fired from Iraq at the kingdom’s oil facilities on Monday and Tuesday.

Saudi Defence Ministry spokesman Turki Al Maliki said the operation was carried out in coordination with the United States under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognises the inherent right of self-defence.

He said the strikes targeted militia groups inside Iraq that were linked to the attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, adding that Riyadh did not seek escalation but would respond to any aggression against the kingdom.

The PMF said several of its headquarters across Iraq were struck in the early-morning raids, killing a number of personnel, wounding others and causing damage to buildings and other property.

Describing the attacks as a serious escalation and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, the PMF said the strikes targeted official Iraqi security institutions.

It added that authorities were assessing the full extent of casualties and damage but did not disclose the locations of the affected sites or announce any retaliatory action.

The latest strikes came amid rapidly escalating regional tensions.

Hours earlier, the US accused Iran of launching multiple ballistic missiles at American military installations in the Middle East, describing the attack as a surprise assault.

CENTCOM said all incoming missiles were intercepted and that US forces remained on high alert.

The IRGC later claimed responsibility for firing ballistic missiles at a US air base and a US Central Command facility in Jordan, describing the attack as retaliation for recent US military operations against Iranian interests.

Iran also claimed that three oil tankers had been struck and halted after allegedly ignoring warnings in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping remains severely disrupted.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement said it had targeted two Saudi vessels as part of its campaign against the kingdom’s maritime interests.

According to CENTCOM, Iran-backed militias carried out more than 600 attacks on US personnel and facilities in Iraq between February and April this year.

The renewed military exchanges mark Iran’s first direct attack on a US base since President Donald Trump paused offensive operations last week to allow space for diplomacy, raising fears that the conflict could widen despite ongoing efforts to prevent a broader regional war.