{"id":3239,"date":"2026-08-01T00:04:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/08\/01\/why-did-riyadh-join-us-strikes-on-tehrans-allies-in-iraq\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T00:04:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:04:39","slug":"why-did-riyadh-join-us-strikes-on-tehrans-allies-in-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=3239","title":{"rendered":"Why did Riyadh join US strikes on Tehran&#8217;s allies in Iraq?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--banner-top o-ad-container--with-shimmer o-ad-container--with-background\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-type=\"sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-status=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring__wrapper\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content t-content--article\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-sidebar\">\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">Why did Riyadh join US strikes on Tehran&#8217;s allies in Iraq?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        Saudi Arabia\u00a0joined the United States for the first time\u00a0in launching air strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq\u00a0on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the kingdom&#8217;s regional posture after months of restraint. While Riyadh insists it\u00a0was\u00a0acting in self-defence, the operation raises questions about whether the kingdom is abandoning its cautious approach towards Tehran\u00a0\u2013\u00a0or simply sending a warning.\u00a0                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-07-31T15:41:12+00:00\">31\/07\/2026 &#8211; 17:41<\/time><\/span><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Modified: <time datetime=\"2026-07-31T15:51:48+00:00\">31\/07\/2026 &#8211; 17:51<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-reading-time\">\n    <span class=\"a-reading-time__icon\" title=\"Reading time\"><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span><br \/>\n    4 min    <span class=\"u-sr-only\">Reading time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/sebastian-seibt\/\" title=\"S\u00e9bastian SEIBT\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                S\u00e9bastian SEIBT<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/81b0b8cc-8c2d-11f1-800d-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/saudi-military.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/81b0b8cc-8c2d-11f1-800d-005056a97e36\/w:388\/p:16x9\/saudi-military.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/81b0b8cc-8c2d-11f1-800d-005056a97e36\/w:720\/p:16x9\/saudi-military.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/81b0b8cc-8c2d-11f1-800d-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/saudi-military.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"Des h\u00e9licopt\u00e8res des forces arm\u00e9es saoudiennes lors d'un gala a\u00e9rien pour la f\u00eate nationale d'Arabie saoudite.\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                Royal Saudi Air Force helicopters fly over during an airshow marking Saudi Arabia&#8217;s 95th National Day celebrations in Banban at the edges of Riyadh on September 23, 2025.         \u00a9 Fayez Nureldine, AFP     <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p>Following months of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/military\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">military<\/a> restraint, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\" target=\"_self\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\u00a0on Wednesday\u00a0joined the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/usa\/\" target=\"_self\">US<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260729-iran-launches-new-missile-attacks-as-us-and-saudi-arabia-strike-tehran-backed-militias-in-iraq\" target=\"_self\">striking\u00a0Iran-backed militias in Iraq<\/a>, marking\u00a0Riyadh&#8217;s first direct military involvement alongside Washington since the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" target=\"_self\">Iran war<\/a>\u00a0erupted in late February.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CENTCOM\/status\/2082260118930956482\" target=\"_blank\">logistics\u00a0hubs and weapons depots<\/a>\u00a0operated\u00a0by militias acting under the direction of Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Saudi officials described the operation as an act of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c70g6y24d76o\" target=\"_blank\">self-defence<\/a>, accusing Iran-backed groups in Iraq of launching drone attacks against the kingdom&#8217;s energy infrastructure earlier this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Hashed al-Shaabi alliance, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces,\u00a0an umbrella organisation that includes many of Iraq&#8217;s pro-Iranian\u00a0Shia militias, said around 20 of its fighters had been killed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The strikes\u00a0represent\u00a0a marked departure from Saudi Arabia&#8217;s approach over recent months.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a very big shift,\u00a0it looks like the Saudis are getting more openly militarily involved [&#8230;] after a few months of very severe restraint,&#8221;\u00a0said Toby Matthiesen,\u00a0senior lecturer\u00a0in Global Islam at the University of Bristol.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>From restraint to retaliation\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Since the US-Israeli offensive against Iran began on February\u00a028, Saudi Arabia has faced a steady stream of attacks by Tehran\u00a0and its\u00a0regional allies.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Riyadh says Iran and its proxies in Iraq and Yemen have repeatedly targeted Saudi energy facilities.\u00a0The kingdom\u00a0accused Tehran of launching almost\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/livecoverage\/iran-war-us-israel-latest-news-2026\/card\/saudi-arabia-says-it-intercepted-nearly-100-drones-in-24-hours-nymYYy4FLEKk6yVyvwOD\" target=\"_blank\">100 drones<\/a>\u00a0against its infrastructure\u00a0on\u00a0March\u00a016 alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/yemen\/\" target=\"_self\">Yemen&#8217;s <\/a>Iran-backed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/houthi-rebels\/\" target=\"_self\">Houthi\u00a0rebels<\/a>\u00a0have\u00a0stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, including several strikes on Saudi-linked vessels.\u00a0The group\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Yahya_Saree\/status\/2082150649538494902\" target=\"_blank\">claimed<\/a>\u00a0on Tuesday that\u00a0it had fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi cargo ship.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Despite the mounting\u00a0attacks, Saudi Arabia had until now limited itself to intercepting incoming attacks while relying on US military support.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Saudi Arabia portrays themselves as a moderate country. And that also plays out in the way that they are trying to manage the ongoing conflict and the ongoing conflagration in the region,&#8221; said Javier Bordon,\u00a0a\u00a0researcher\u00a0in International Relations at Lancaster University.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The kingdom is\u00a0seeking\u00a0not &#8220;to pursue escalation, but basically to deter aggression&#8221;, he\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>The cost of restraint<\/h2>\n<p>Riyadh&#8217;s cautious approach also reflected\u00a0a broader diplomatic strategy, experts said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Over the past few years,\u00a0the country has\u00a0sought\u00a0to rebuild relations with\u00a0regional rival Iran on the basis that long-term\u00a0coexistence is preferable to perpetual confrontation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That pragmatic calculation culminated in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20230310-iran-saudi-arabia-agree-to-re-establish-relations-after-years-of-tensions\" target=\"_self\">Chinese-brokered agreement in 2023<\/a>\u00a0to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The rapprochement, however, did not bring an end to\u00a0their rivalry.\u00a0Instead, it continued to play out through their respective allies across the Middle East.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The two countries have historically channelled this tension through a broader proxy war involving multiple states and militant groups across the Middle East,&#8221; said\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ipr.blogs.ie.edu\/2025\/01\/27\/sectarianism-and-geopolitics-the-saudi-iran-rivalry-in-proxy-conflicts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kenzy Dessouki<\/a>, a\u00a0student at IE University in Madrid who specialises\u00a0in Saudi-Iran relations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>What appears to have changed is Riyadh&#8217;s assessment of the\u00a0cost\u00a0of continued restraint.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to Bordon, the shift was the cumulative effect\u00a0of repeated attacks and growing economic risks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260330-will-iranian-backed-yemen-houthis-rebels-block-the-bab-al-mandeb-strait\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">Bab al-Mandab strait: Iran\u2019s Houthi allies enter the conflict, raising fears over key trade route<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Although Saudi Arabia has been less vulnerable than some Gulf neighbours to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz\u00a0\u2013\u00a0thanks to its East-West pipeline, which allows oil exports to reach the Red Sea without passing through the Gulf\u00a0\u2013\u00a0that advantage may not last.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Bordon argued\u00a0that if Houthi pressure were to extend to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Saudi Arabia would face a much more challenging economic environment, with both of its key maritime export routes coming under threat.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Against that backdrop, Saudi leaders\u00a0seem to have\u00a0come to the conclusion\u00a0that Tehran needed a clearer warning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>A new front in Iraq\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>According to experts, the choice of Iraq was both militarily and politically significant.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Unlike Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been militarily involved since 2015, Iraq\u00a0represents\u00a0new ground. It also hosts several of the militias accused of attacking Saudi territory.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile,\u00a0some\u00a0experts suggested that\u00a0Iraqi domestic politics may also have played a part.\u00a0The country&#8217;s\u00a0Prime Minister\u00a0Ali Al-Zaidi,\u00a0who was nominated\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260427-iraq-s-president-ask-pm-designate-ali-al-zaidi-to-form-government\" target=\"_self\">late April,<\/a>\u00a0has pledged to bring all armed groups under state control, directly challenging the influence of powerful militias.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think the US and Saudi Arabia, they align in this vision when it comes to reasserting or consolidating the state monopoly\u00a0[&#8230;] over the militias,&#8221; Bordon said, adding that the strikes\u00a0represent\u00a0&#8220;a\u00a0way of signalling\u00a0their support for that vision&#8221;. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Crucially, Riyadh has avoided striking Iranian territory directly. Dessouki argued that the operation should be seen as a defensive response to attacks by Iran-backed militias rather than as an offensive against Iran itself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As long as\u00a0Saudi Arabia refrains from targeting Iran or formally aligning itself with Washington&#8217;s military campaign, she said, the broader dynamics of the conflict remain\u00a0largely unchanged. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is more a signal of power rather than an explicit commitment to the war,&#8221; she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Saudi Arabia&#8217;s calculation appears to be that a limited show of force may\u00a0ultimately help\u00a0prevent the war from spreading.\u00a0By\u00a0demonstrating\u00a0that attacks on its territory now carry a direct military cost, Riyadh hopes to deter Iran and its regional allies from launching further strikes against the kingdom.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But whether this calculated risk will pay off remains\u00a0uncertain. Some analysts\u00a0warn that\u00a0joining US strikes risks\u00a0drawing Saudi Arabia\u00a0deeper\u00a0into regional\u00a0confrontation as the conflict continues to\u00a0broaden.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>This article has been adapted from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/fr\/moyen-orient\/20260730-frappes-am%C3%A9ricano-saoudiennes-pourquoi-riyad-d%C3%A9terre-un-peu-la-hache-de-guerre-contre-l-iran\" target=\"_self\">original in\u00a0French<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Natasha LI.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Saudi Arabia\">    Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iraq\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iraq\">    Iraq<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran war\">    Iran war<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/usa\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"USA\">    USA<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/houthi-rebels\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Houthi rebels\">    Houthi rebels<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/red-sea\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Red Sea\">    Red Sea<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertising Why did Riyadh join US strikes on Tehran&#8217;s allies in Iraq? Middle East Saudi&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3239\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}