Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday its armed forces, in coordination with US Central Command (CENTCOM), carried out targeted strikes against sites belonging to Iran-backed militia in Iraq.

The ministry’s official spokesman, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said the operation was conducted under the right to self-defence as recognised by Article 51 of the UN Charter.

“Today, the Saudi Armed Forces, in coordination with US Central Command, carried out precision strikes against targets belonging to those militias in the Republic of Iraq, which are linked to attacks on the Kingdom’s oil facilities,” Al-Maliki said.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia was not seeking escalation but would respond to any aggression against it.

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