Ahead of the strikes, President Trump asserted that Iran was “going to get a beating” and that the US would be “hitting hard.” The American-Saudi attacks killed approximately 20 Iranian proxy militiamen who were also members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces. This is the first time that Saudi Arabia has acknowledged participating in strikes against Iran or its proxies despite being extensively targeted up until now. Two Israeli soldiers were also killed by a drone launched from Iraq which impacted their Golan Heights base in October 2024. Post-Islamic State, the Popular Mobilisation Forces remained an important part of the Iraqi state’s security apparatus and never disbanded.