500 Drones Launched From Iraq Toward Saudi Arabia — Region on Edge

Iraq Becomes Drone War Battlefield as Iran-Backed Militias Strike Gulf States. Five Hundred drone attacks from Iraqi territory hit Saudi Arabia and beyond, raising fears of a hidden regional war spiraling out of control

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj, SULAIMANI,  Kurdish Policy Analysis, April 21-- Iraqi militia groups close to Iran have fired dozens of drones at Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries during the war; This has created a “silent” war in the midst of the Great War.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, half of the 1,000 drone strikes against Saudi Arabia were from within Iraqi territory. The report cited a Saudi security assessment that said the attacks targeted sensitive positions, including the Yanbu refinery on the Red Sea and oil fields in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The report said the drones hit not only Saudi Arabia, but also Kuwait's only civilian airport. Even after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire earlier this month, attacks on Bahrain continued. Inside Iraq, militias have attacked the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra and the UAE consulate in the Kurdistan Region.

The State Department has warned that militias are planning more attacks and urged citizens to stay away from the US embassy in Baghdad and Iraqi consulates; Because the Washington embassy in Baghdad has been targeted several times and most of its employees have evacuated.

According to the report, Ismail Qaani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Corps, visited Baghdad on Saturday to coordinate with the militia leaders for the attacks.

Saudi Arabia to attack Iraq?

After weeks of Iranian bombing of their energy infrastructure, the Gulf countries now see Iraq as an appropriate arena to respond; Because they can threaten Tehran's interests from there without directly attacking Iranian territory and facing a tougher response.

"Iraq is the place where they can all respond and the right arena to show strength," said Michael Knights, a strategist at the Washington Institute. Knights notes that Saudi Arabia may launch symbolic attacks on militia bases in Iraq, while Kuwait and Bahrain allow the United States to use their territory for missile strikes against the groups.

The military tensions coincide with the disruption of the political process in Iraq after the November elections. The struggle between the parties to form a government has weakened Baghdad's power to stop the militias. Former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has strong ties to Tehran and militias, was the main candidate to take over, but Donald Trump expressed his opposition to the move earlier this year.

Renad Mansour, a researcher at the Chatham House Institute, believes the militias are now more indifferent because they see any collapse of the Tehran regime as a threat to their survival. "Iran's strategy and the groups under its command in this war is only to destroy regional security in order to show the United States and its allies the bad consequences of the war," he said.

Iraqi militias, with an estimated 250,000 fighters and budgets in the billions of dollars, have grown amid chaos since 2003 and the fall of the former regime. The latest are groups such as Hezbollah battalions and Ahl al-Haq, which have many missiles and drones.

#Iraq #Iran #SaudiArabia #Gulf #DroneWar #MiddleEast #Breaking #Geopolitics


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Iranian Media Unveils ‘Lord of the Straits’ Animation Amid Hormuz Tensions

     Iran Drops “Lord of the Straits” Animation — A Chilling Signal Over Hormuz Control March 23, 2026 Iranian state-affiliated media outlets have released a stylized animation titled “Lord of the Straits,” centered on the strategic Strait of Hormuz , as tensions in the region continue to escalate. The animation, which has circulated widely on social media, depicts a dramatized narrative emphasizing Iran’s control and influence over the narrow maritime passage, a critical artery for global oil shipments. While the video does not include official military statements, analysts say its messaging aligns with Tehran’s broader strategic signaling amid the ongoing confrontation involving the United States and its allies. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil trade, making any perceived threat to its security a major concern for global energy markets. Recent weeks have seen heightened rhetoric from multiple sides, including warnings over potential di...
Read more

Did Japan just send Godzilla to the Strait of Hormuz? As global tensions rise, a viral meme captures the chaos of 2026’s geopolitical crisis.

Image
       Godzilla escorts an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz in a viral meme capturing the chaos of rising global tensions in 2026 Japan Deploys Legendary Asset to Secure Strait of Hormuz: Godzilla Now on Escort Duty As tensions surge in the Strait of Hormuz —a critical artery for nearly 20% of global oil—an unexpected viral moment has taken over the internet: Japan has “deployed” Godzilla . What started as a joke is now one of the most shared reactions to a rapidly escalating geopolitical crisis in 2026. Why This Matters The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of global oil Any disruption impacts fuel prices worldwide Escalation could affect Iraq, Kurdistan, and global markets In a move that has stunned military analysts and delighted meme lords everywhere, Japan has apparently answered the call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz —by sending its most fearsome maritime guardian straight from the silver screen. A now-viral image shows the King of the Mo...
Read more

U.S.–Iran 45 Day Ceasefire Bid Emerges as War Nears Breaking Point

Image
  ANALYSIS — Last-ditch diplomacy tests limits as U.S.–Iran war nears escalation point.  Backchannel diplomacy scrambles for a 45-day pause as threats escalate and the fate of the region hangs on a rapidly closing window. Kurdish Policy Analysis , April 6 (Analysis) — A flurry of high-stakes diplomacy aimed at halting the U.S.–Iran war has emerged as what officials describe as a “last realistic opportunity” to prevent a far wider regional conflict, even as military threats intensify and timelines compress. At the center of the effort is a proposed 45-day ceasefire , structured as a two-phase process: an initial pause in hostilities followed by negotiations toward a permanent settlement . A narrow diplomatic window The urgency reflects a rapidly closing window. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a deadline—extended slightly to Tuesday evening— warning of major strikes if Iran fails to meet key demands, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz , a vital artery for glo...
Read more