{"id":2637419,"date":"2026-07-29T18:31:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joint-operation-with-us-opens-saudi-arabia-to-barrage-from-iran-and-proxies\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T18:32:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:32:33","slug":"joint-operation-with-us-opens-saudi-arabia-to-barrage-from-iran-and-proxies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joint-operation-with-us-opens-saudi-arabia-to-barrage-from-iran-and-proxies\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint operation with US opens Saudi Arabia to barrage from Iran and proxies"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjoint-operation-with-us-opens-saudi-arabia-to-barrage-from-iran-and-proxies%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2637419&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Saudi Arabia has shifted from a cautious stance to a more aggressive military approach amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Recently, it announced a joint strike with the U.S. against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, marking its first direct attack outside Yemen in the current war. This escalation follows increased drone attacks on Saudi territory by Iraqi militias and retaliatory strikes by Saudi forces, signaling a departure from previous de-escalation policies despite public commitments to peace. The change is driven by internal lobbying efforts by Saudi leadership, particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seeking a more assertive stance against Iran.<\/p>\n<p>The country\u2019s involvement spans several fronts, including Yemen, where Saudi strikes have intensified, and Iraq, where Iraqi militias launched drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure. Notably, Iraqi militias linked to Iran have been targeted by Saudi airstrikes, marking a direct confrontation with Iran&#8217;s regional allies. Historically, Saudi Arabia\u2019s military has struggled despite important investments and advanced hardware, especially during its intervention in Yemen, which exposed weaknesses in its armed forces. In response, Saudi reforms have focused on overhauling military structures, increasing funding, and building local defense industries to reduce reliance on imports.<\/p>\n<p>Saudi Arabia has augmented its military capabilities, becoming one of the top defense spenders globally, with a large and modern air force equipped with advanced fighter jets and ballistic missile capabilities. Its military reforms and modernization efforts aim to enhance effectiveness in this increasingly complex regional conflict, though confronting multiple well-armed adversaries will be a considerable challenge.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"590\">Saudi Arabia<\/a> announced a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4666881\/us-saudi-arabia-strike-iran-proxies-iraq\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4666881\">joint strike<\/a> with the United States against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"100\">Iran<\/a>-allied militias in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iraq\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"101\">Iraq<\/a>, a major change in the kingdom\u2019s stance from its previously restrained posture, which opened the country to a war on three fronts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The early Wednesday morning strikes came after Iraqi militias launched over 30 drone attacks against the kingdom over the previous three days for the first time during the war. While reports of Saudi airstrikes against Iran had been floated earlier in the war, the strikes marked the first direct, publicized attack by the Saudis against targets outside of Yemen in the current war. The strikes and killing of a significant number of Iran-allied fighters in Iraq signal a shift toward a more aggressive stance by Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom had tried to maintain a de-escalatory posture for months.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4668290\/joint-operation-us-saudi-arabia-reform-barrage-iran-third-largest-arms-importer\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Joint operation with US opens Saudi Arabia to barrage from Iran and its proxies<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4667554\/berlin-queer-commissioner-islamic-attack-pride-parade-conservative-violence\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Berlin\u2019s \u2018queer commissioner\u2019 condemns Islamic attack on Pride parade as \u2018conservative\u2019 violence<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4666366\/iran-restitution-ukraine-ship-attack\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Iran says it seeks \u2018restitution\u2019 from Ukraine, not escalation, after ship attack<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Members of the Saudi military band wait to perform during a military parade in preparation for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo\/Altaf Qadri)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26141797078755.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the Saudi military band waits to perform during a military parade in preparation for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo\/Altaf Qadri)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the start of Operation Epic Fury, a major gulf has existed between Saudi Arabia\u2019s public statements and reports of its private activity. Even as it came under heavy Iranian drone and missile attack since the opening days, Riyadh hadn\u2019t publicly responded with any strikes against Iran, and has repeatedly maintained its commitment to peace and de-escalation in public statements.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, several outlets, citing anonymous officials familiar with the matter, claimed that Saudi Crown Prince <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mohammed-bin-salman\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"591\">Mohammed bin Salman<\/a> had been lobbying President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> for months to take an aggressive stance against Iran and avoid any deal that stopped short of dismantling the regime and Iran\u2019s nuclear program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This abruptly changed in May, when Salman reportedly pleaded with Trump not to restart the war. Wednesday\u2019s strikes mark another shift in Saudi Arabia\u2019s policy.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-war-on-three-fronts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A war on three fronts?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saudi Arabia\u2019s path to direct combat began earlier this month on an unexpectedly quiet front: Yemen. The Saudi Air Force bombed Sanaa Airport on July 13 after a Houthi delegation returning from former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei\u2019s funeral tried to land, violating the air blockade. The attack was a show of force and was criticized for using expensive precision ammunition to hit the airport tarmac. Nevertheless, the Houthis soon retaliated with a ballistic missile strike targeting Saudi Arabia\u2019s Abha International Airport.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though the attack was more a warning than the restarting of hostilities, it provided the immediate trigger for the Houthis\u2019 involvement in the wider war. In retaliation for Saudi Arabia\u2019s blockade of its territory, the terrorist group announced its own blockade of Saudi Arabia, threatening to attack any vessels that traded with the kingdom. The group began attacking shipping in the Red Sea shortly after, and launched attacks on Saudi Arabia\u2019s oil infrastructure. The kingdom bombed targets in Houthi territory in response.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The situation was further complicated this week when Iraqi militias began launching drones at Saudi oil infrastructure, the first time the kingdom was attacked by Iraq. No group openly claimed responsibility for the attack, with some under the Popular Mobilization Forces explicitly denying having launched the strike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An Iraqi pro-militia outlet <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/naya_foriraq\/86016\">said<\/a> Saudi Arabia struck the headquarters of the 40th PMF Brigade, also known as Kataib al-Imam Ali. The group is known for being particularly close to Lebanon\u2019s Hezbollah, but also resented by other militias for the perception that it prioritizes commercial interests, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtoninstitute.org\/policy-analysis\/profile-kataib-al-imam-ali\">according to<\/a> the Washington Institute.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saudi Arabia was previously embroiled in a frozen conflict with the Houthis that it was content to keep on ice, and in a state of de facto war with Iran, though publicly committed to de-escalation. The exchange of fire against Iraqi militias now explicitly pits it against the entire Iran-led Axis of Resistance, which, though severely degraded in the post-Oct. 7 wars, still possesses enough missiles and drones to stretch thin and deplete the kingdom\u2019s struggling air defenses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Saudi Arabia shifting to a more aggressive stance, the next question is whether its military capabilities are enough to have an impact on the war.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-saudi-military-capabilities\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saudi military capabilities<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saudi Arabia\u2019s catastrophic military intervention in Yemen from 2015 to 2022 ended in abject failure by all accounts, exposing the kingdom as the paper tiger of the Middle East. Despite its cutting-edge military hardware and extensive Western military and intelligence support, it was unable to shrink the Houthis\u2019 control of the country. The Saudi Air Force\u2019s performance was noted as particularly poor relative to its high-end technology. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAlthough individual Saudi pilots had often performed well flying as part of U.S.-led coalitions, decades of U.S. training missions had not produced a Saudi military capable of independently planning and executing an effective air campaign that minimized collateral damage,\u201d a former Obama-era Pentagon official <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/international\/archive\/2017\/04\/yemen-trump-aqap\/522957\/\">wrote<\/a> in the <em>Atlantic<\/em> in 2017. \u201cAnd however much Saudi air forces struggled, Saudi ground forces labored even harder, trying and repeatedly failing to prevent or even counter Houthi ground excursions across the border.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the intervention exposed the full scale of Saudi military weakness, Salman initiated a sweeping overhaul of the country\u2019s entire military structure. He handed the defense minister position over to his capable younger brother, Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, in September 2022. Unlike the crown prince, who had no military training, the new defense minister boasted extensive training in the U.S. and initiated sweeping reforms in line with the U.S. military\u2019s structure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/faoajournal.substack.com\/p\/a-us-saudi-defense-pact-might-interrupt\">article<\/a> published in the <em>FAO Journal of International Affairs<\/em>, retired U.S. Army Colonels Robert K. Carnahan and Colonel David M. Witty outlined the nature of the reforms, saying it included the creation of a joint staff, a joint operations command, a new doctrine, a national defense strategy, and a human resource management program, all hallmarks of effective modern militaries that were entirely absent from the Saudi armed forces previously. The new defense minister also went on to \u201ccompletely overhaul the general officer corps.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Human capital, lacking during the Yemen intervention, has been one of the primary focuses. In June 2024, Khalid bin Salman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ispionline.it\/en\/publication\/khalid-bin-salmans-rising-influence-in-saudi-defense-reforms-190141\">inaugurated<\/a> the Saudi Arabian National Defense University, which aims to become a modern military educational institution. The Saudi Defense Ministry partnered with the Pentagon\u2019s Near East and South Asia Center for Strategic Studies to improve education and training for Saudi military personnel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These reforms have been accompanied by a massive increase in military funding and the building up of local defense industrial infrastructure, aiming to wean Saudi Arabia off its reliance on arms imports. While the Vision 2030 goal of a 50% defense localization by 2030 doesn\u2019t look likely to be reached, the country saw an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/10242694.2025.2557883#d1e381\">impressive growth<\/a> from just 2% in 2016 to nearly 15% by mid-2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its state-owned defense company, Saudi Arabian Military Industries, has gone from a non-entity to the 75th-biggest defense company by 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest change has been the kingdom\u2019s increase in military funding, becoming the fifth-biggest defense spender in 2025, and the third-largest arms importer. In terms of GDP percentage spent on the military, it\u2019s surpassed only by Ukraine. Its defense budget went from $64 billion in 2016 to $80 billion in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saudi Arabia\u2019s biggest military asset is its air force, one of the largest and most capable in the Middle East. It has the largest F-15 fleet outside of the U.S., consisting of 211 planes of various types, and 72 Eurofighter Typhoons, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/edition.pagesuite.com\/html5\/reader\/production\/default.aspx?pubname=&#038;edid=be17c552-aa6c-4cd0-820b-45bdade036a2\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/edition.pagesuite.com\/html5\/reader\/production\/default.aspx?pubname=&#038;edid=be17c552-aa6c-4cd0-820b-45bdade036a2\">according to<\/a> FlightGlobal\/Cirium\u2019s 2026 World Air Forces Directory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4666881\/us-saudi-arabia-strike-iran-proxies-iraq\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4666881\">US AND SAUDI ARABIA STRIKE IRANIAN PROXIES IN IRAQ, CENTCOM SAYS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s also one of the few countries to possess conventional ballistic missiles, the capability Iran has relied on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Preliminary tests of the kingdom\u2019s new combat potential have largely been positive \u2014 its one confirmed military operation since the Yemen ceasefire in 2022, the brief operation against the Southern Transition Council in support of its Yemeni allies, was a smashing success. However, this operation was carried out against a relatively small entity that had just been abandoned by its foremost ally. Its first major task of countering sustained attacks against three formidable foes from three fronts will surely be far more daunting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saudi Arabia and US strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2637420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26141797078755.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[42102,83408,62268,41297,83409],"class_list":["post-2637419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-geopolitical-tensions","tag-iran-proxy-threats","tag-middle-east-security","tag-regional-conflict","tag-us-saudi-relations"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26141797078755.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2637419"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2637423,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637419\/revisions\/2637423"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2637420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2637419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2637419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2637419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}