Overview
- Reuters disclosed on June 19 that three to four covert cells based near Basra and Samawa carried out at least seven drone attacks from April 20 to May 17 targeting Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
- Each cell reportedly comprised about 10 elite Iraqi Shi'ite fighters who were partly drawn from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq but operated outside its command and reported directly to Iran's IRGC.
- Sources say specific strikes targeted Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base and a military terminal at Kuwait's airport, while attacks bound for Saudi Arabia and the UAE were intercepted and a May 17 strike that caused a fire at the Barakah nuclear plant is under Iraqi investigation.
- The U.S. State Department has urged Baghdad to dismantle Iran-aligned armed groups and Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to discuss disarmament and a joint inquiry into attacks that used Iraqi territory.
- Attribution remains unverified and investigations are ongoing, but officials warn the shift to small, tightly controlled cells increases risks of regional escalation, damages Iraqi sovereignty, and could further strain Iraq’s ties with Gulf states.