On February 28, 2026, Donald Trump announced that the United States, with the support of Israel, had launched a military operation in Iran to destroy the regime’s nuclear enrichment capabilities. As a result, the Strait of Hormuz, through which over 20% of the world’s oil and gas trade passes, was closed to navigation, causing a global spike in prices.
April 21 marks the end of the ceasefire agreed on April 8 between the United States and Iran. Simultaneously, a more discreet war unfolded between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. According to The Wall Street Journal, Iranian-backed Iraqi militias launched numerous explosive drones at Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Strategic areas targeted by Iraq: An assessment by a close source revealed that nearly half of the approximately 1,000 drone attacks against Saudi Arabia originated from Iraq. These attacks targeted highly strategic areas, including a Saudi refinery in Yanbu’s oil center on the Red Sea, and oil fields in the kingdom’s eastern province. Drones from Iraq also targeted Kuwait’s only civilian airport and Bahrain following a ceasefire announcement by Donald Trump. Militias also attacked Gulf countries’ interests in Iraq, such as the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra and the United Arab Emirates consulate in Kurdistan.
Shiite Iraqi militias emerged from the chaos following the American invasion over twenty years ago, defending Shiite areas against Sunni militants and fighting US forces they deemed as occupiers. They now comprise dozens of militias with around 250,000 members, with substantial funds and long-range missile arsenals. Due to their opposition to Iran and links with the US, they have long threatened Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
Iraq considered a “retaliation zone” by Gulf countries: As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Gulf countries now view Iraq as a place where they can retaliate without directly attacking Iran’s territory and inciting harsher reprisals.
Michael Knights, a research director at strategic advisory firm Horizon Engage and researcher with the Washington Institute Think Tank, stated that Iraq is a ground for all to retaliate freely, making it an excellent place to assert power and show they are not immune to attacks.
