TEHRAN / BAGHDAD — A joint military operation by the United States and Saudi Arabia overnight targeted multiple strategic locations across Iraq, resulting in the deaths of at least four members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and dozens of Iranian-aligned fighters, according to Iranian state media and US officials.
The coordinated campaign targeted weapon logistics sites and operational facilities following a series of regional drone attacks aimed at American military personnel and Gulf oil infrastructure.
Iranian Media Identifies Slain Officers
Iranian state news agency Mehr confirmed the deaths of four IRGC personnel during heavy bombardment in northern Iraq's Diyala province. The deceased officers were identified as Ali Asghar Astaneh, Abolfazl Motaqi, Morteza Akbari, and Amir Abbas Darhamforoush. All four hailed from the central Iranian city of Kashan, though Iranian outlets did not elaborate on their exact ranks or military assignments within Iraq.
Separate reports cited by Al Jazeera corroborated the loss of the four IRGC-affiliated operatives. However, American military assessments suggest a significantly higher casualty toll. Quoting an anonymous US official, The New York Times reported that roughly 20 Iranian advisers—including IRGC command personnel and technical experts—were killed in the raids. According to the official, the command installations were deliberately targeted to disrupt the operational network coordinating drone and missile deployments by Tehran-backed militias.
Heavy Casualties Reported by Iraqi Militias
Inside Iraq, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF)—an umbrella organization of state-sanctioned, predominantly Shia paramilitary groups—announced that at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 others wounded in strikes spanning seven provinces, including Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Basra.
In a formal statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the execution of joint strikes against strategic logistics and munitions depots across eastern Iraq. CENTCOM explained that the operation was launched in direct response to more than 30 offensive drone strikes conducted over a 72-hour period, which coalition intelligence attributed to IRGC-backed groups targeting US military outposts and Saudi energy infrastructure.
The military escalation comes shortly after Saudi air defense forces successfully intercepted several attack drones over the kingdom’s Eastern Province. Saudi authorities blamed the attempted strikes on Iranian proxy networks operating out of Iraqi territory.
Diplomatic Backlash in Baghdad
The air campaign has triggered a fierce reaction from the Iraqi government. Iraq’s National Security Council condemned the joint action as an "unacceptable violation" of national sovereignty, noting that the strikes occurred while Iraqi diplomats were actively engaged in security discussions with representatives from both Washington and Riyadh.
While US President Donald Trump stated that the military operation was coordinated alongside Iraqi partners, authorities in Baghdad firmly rejected any foreign actions carried out on their territory without explicit authorization.
