Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU) have said joint US-Saudi strikes on bases across the country killed at least 20 of the paramilitary alliance members and wounded 32 in an escalation with Iran-backed armed groups.
"These attacks resulted in the martyrdom of a number of personnel and injuries to others, as well as material damage to several buildings and properties," the alliance, known in Arabic as Hashd al Shaabi, said in a statement.
Casualties were also reported in other provinces, according to another official who confirmed the initial toll.
The United States and Saudi Arabia said the strikes targeted Iran-backed militants in response to attacks on US military personnel and Saudi oil facilities.
PMU condemns strikes as sovereignty violation
The PMU denounced the operation as "a dangerous escalation, a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and an attack on its official security institutions."
Created in 2014 to fight the Daesh terror group, the PMU was later integrated into Iraq's armed forces. While several Iran-backed factions operate within the alliance, many retain independent command structures and have been linked to attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region.
Saudi Arabia blamed Iran-backed groups in Iraq for launching drones targeting oil facilities in the kingdom's east, saying its air defences intercepted the attack.
The armed groups denied responsibility, calling Riyadh's accusations "fabrications" and warning against military action inside Iraq.
Iraq caught between Washington and Tehran
The latest strikes underscore Iraq's continuing struggle to balance relations with its two key partners, the United States and Iran, whose rivalry has repeatedly turned the country into a battleground for proxy conflict.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who took office earlier this year, has pledged to bring pro-Iran armed groups under tighter state control and ensure they surrender their weapons, but has faced resistance from influential factions.
Zaidi visited both Washington and Tehran earlier this month in an effort to ease tensions and preserve Iraq's fragile stability.
