Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a new Iraqi front in the Iran war, Russia’s social media crackdown, and wildfires across Western and Southern Europe.

New Battlefield Players

U.S. and Saudi forces launched joint strikes on Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq on Wednesday, upending a fragile pause in fighting amid indirect U.S.-Iran peace talks and adding another front to a rapidly expanding regional war.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a new Iraqi front in the Iran war, Russia’s social media crackdown, and wildfires across Western and Southern Europe.

New Battlefield Players

U.S. and Saudi forces launched joint strikes on Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq on Wednesday, upending a fragile pause in fighting amid indirect U.S.-Iran peace talks and adding another front to a rapidly expanding regional war.

According to Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry, the overnight strikes targeted an Iranian proxy group responsible for drone attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and U.S. troops. “The kingdom emphasizes that it does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces,” Riyadh said in a statement. U.S. Central Command (Centcom) also confirmed the operation, saying the two countries “struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites” in Iraq.

The primary target was Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group for Iraqi militias backed and trained by Tehran. Iraqi law recognizes the PMF as part of the country’s security forces, reporting directly to the prime minister. However, Centcom has accused the organization of launching more than 600 attacks on U.S. citizens and facilities in the Middle East between February and April.

At least 20 PMF members were killed and another 32 wounded in Wednesday’s strikes. These attacks represent a “highly dangerous escalation” in the war, the PMF said in a statement. Six Iranian advisors were also killed, Iraqi militia officials........

© Foreign Policy