Cogito Ergo Non Serviam
US, Saudis Attack Iranian Proxies in Iraq
The US-Iran-Israel-Gulf States War has taken its show on the road to Iraq. After holding their fire over the week-end, the two sides have gone back to shooting missiles and drones at one another. Last night, the Iraqi Popular Mobilzation Forces fired missiles at US bases; the PMF is a state security service that has been infiltrated by Iranian sympathizers. The US claims to have knocked down all the missiles fired, and joint US-Saudi forces attached the PMF, killing at least 20 of the proxies. This demonstrates two things that will affect the future course of the war. First, Iran started this barrage signaling they do not care about retaliation. Second, Saudi cannot stay neutral-ish as it has so far.
The view of the war that has taken root in the minds of most is that the US and Israel decide whether diplomacy or military action is the order of the day. This view argues that Iranians have taken such a beating that they are grateful for any respite. Those who see the war this way believe Iran retaliates only for the appearance of resistance. The fact that there was a lull in the fighting which Iran broke puts the lie to this perspective. Iran may well be calculating that it can run down US supplies of Tomahawk and Patriot missiles this way, strengthening Iran in the long term.
As for the Saudis, they have been careful to avoid any direct confrontation with Iran. Indeed, they have denied the US the use of American bases in the kingdom for actions against Iran in the past. That seems to be ending.
Al Jazeera reported:
The Saudi Ministry of Defence said in a statement the strikes were "in response to recent drone attacks" and that Saudi air defences had "intercepted and destroyed several drones that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh regions . . . . launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-aligned terrorist militias".
"The Kingdom emphasises that it does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces."
While the US-Saudi strike was directed at Iranian proxies, it has also complicated matters with Iraq, a nominally friendly government.
The Iraqi presidency denounced the attack "that targeted facilities of the PMF". It said it categorically rejected any attacks in Iraqi territory, while also opposing "the use of Iraqi territory as a launching point or battleground for attacks against neighboring countries."
The PMF is a problem for just about everyone outside of it. Under Iraqi law, it is part of the national security forces reporting directly to the prime minister in his role as commander-in-chief. However, the ability of the Baghdad Green Zone government to enforce orders it gives the PMF is not all that great. The PMF operates with a fair degree of independence from Baghdad; usually, it toes the Iranian line.
The Iranian strategy here is pretty clear. They will use their proxies to irritate the US-Israeli-Saudi forces, pinprick attacks that will be enough for retaliation but not enough to justify an all-out attack. They just want to keep the pot boiling while the US marches to its mid-term elections. As they did with President Carter in 1980, the Iranian government will toy with President Trump offering deals and withdrawing them, agreeing then not agreeing. This will go on for at least three more months. After the elections humiliate the US president, the Iranians may be more interested in real talks.
Until then, there is every chance that this conflict will bring in other countries into direct confrontation with Iran like Saudi Arabia, and even Ukraine (which fired on an Iranian ship in Russian waters in the Caspian Sea a few days ago). The danger is that more cooks in the kitchen will make sure the peace talks never really get off the ground until something truly bad that kills hundreds happens.
Starting a war is easier than ending one.
© Copyright 2026 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.
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