The Iranian news outlet Dideban Iran has reported that four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed during joint U.S.–Saudi airstrikes targeting positions held by Iran-aligned groups in Iraq.
According to the report, IRGC members Ali-Asghar Astaneh, Abolfazl Mottaqi, Morteza Akbari, and Amir-Abbas Derham-Foroush were killed in attacks in Karbala province on Tuesday evening. As of now, neither the IRGC nor any other official institution of the Islamic Republic has confirmed or denied the report.
The report follows an announcement by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) early on Wednesday, July 29, stating that U.S. and Saudi forces had carried out a joint operation targeting Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq.
In its statement, CENTCOM noted that the operation was launched in response to more than 30 drone attacks over the preceding 72 hours, which it attributed to IRGC-backed groups seeking to strike U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
The statement noted that U.S. and Saudi fighter jets struck several logistics centres, weapons depots, and positions belonging to these groups. CENTCOM further warned that the IRGC and its aligned forces must cease their attacks or face “further military responses.”
