Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territory this week in coordination with Iraqi armed groups, according to two regional officials. This indicates a growing collaboration among pro-Iranian militias, as noted by Saudi Arabia and its regional partners.
These assessments, which differ from official reports, suggest that members of the so-called Iranian “Axis of Resistance” have strengthened their ties and capabilities to threaten U.S. allies in the region. This development comes despite years of U.S. and Israeli strikes against them from Lebanon to Iran following Hamas’s attack on Israel in 2023. The assaults included strikes on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province, the kingdom’s primary oil production hub.
In response, Saudi Arabia conducted joint airstrikes with the United States on Wednesday against Iraqi targets it claimed were linked to the attacks, officially blaming Iraqi armed groups associated with Iran. The Yemeni Houthis took responsibility for these attacks. Iraq reported that it is investigating the incidents.
Two regional officials stated that some attacks were executed from Iraqi territory in collaboration between Iraqi groups and the Houthis, under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Following the Saudi-U.S. strikes on Wednesday, pro-Iranian media reported casualties and published obituaries for IRGC members, Iraqi militants, and at least one Houthi.
“There is now direct preparation and coordination between the members of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ themselves, not just between them and Iran,” said Fareah al-Muslimi, a research fellow in the Middle East and North Africa program at the Chatham House think tank. Analysts emphasize that these attacks highlight Iraq’s growing significance as a key hub for the ‘Axis of Resistance’ following the decline of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and the significant weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The governments of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq did not respond to requests for comment, nor did the Houthis. The Houthis asserted that their attacks on Saudi Arabia are a response to Saudi actions in Yemen and aim to break the “siege” imposed by the kingdom. Saudi Arabia denies imposing a siege, citing the arrival of dozens of ships at Houthi-controlled ports this year.
History of ties between the Houthis and Iraqi groups
Cooperation between the Houthis and Iraqi armed groups loyal to Iran has a long history, particularly with Kataib Hezbollah, the most armed and organized of the Iraqi factions. In 2024, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi announced the establishment of a joint operations room between the Houthis and Iraqi factions, and later that year, both groups declared their first joint operation targeting Israel.
The Houthis also maintain a permanent presence in Iraq, including offices and an official representative, Ahmed al-Sharafi, who has held public meetings with pro-Iranian Iraqi Shiite parties and armed groups in the country. Red-green posters featuring the Houthis’ slogan “Sarkha”—”God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, victory to Islam”—have adorned parts of Baghdad for many years.
Iraq as a launchpad for attacks
Analysts note that Iraq serves as a strategic location for the Houthis and other pro-Iranian groups due to its vast geography and open spaces, which facilitate concealment and covert operations. The border between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which spans over 800 km (500 miles), is challenging to monitor, making it an ideal launchpad for attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
According to official representatives from these states, groups operating in Iraq are linked to hundreds of attacks on Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These incidents include a drone attack in March on the U.S. embassy in Riyadh and a strike in May on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE. Iraq has repeatedly stated that it will investigate reports of attacks from its territory on Arab neighbors, but critics argue that it has shown little ability to resolve these issues, undermining its relations and trust with Gulf neighbors.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi canceled a planned visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following Saudi strikes on Iraq that occurred after attacks on the kingdom. Zaidi outlined an ambitious plan to bring all weapons under state control by the end of September, despite resistance from some armed factions.
