"The commander-in-chief ordered the establishment of a special fund to finance the air defense sector,” Sabah al-Numan told Rudaw’s Gashaw Khalid, noting that “it was also decided to shorten the plan designed to develop this sector—which was initially scheduled to extend from 2026 to 2031—to just three years, without affecting the technical and technological aspects."
The move follows late July strikes by the US and Saudi Arabia on Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) positions in Baghdad and five other provinces. The PMF said the attacks killed "at least 20" members and injured "32 others."
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the "precision strikes in Iraq" targeted "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure."
The Saudi defense ministry called the operation a response to "reprehensible drone attacks carried out against the Kingdom by Iran-backed militias in Iraq," citing "the Kingdom's determination to deter the perpetrators and its right to respond."
Saudi military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said the strikes followed a late July incident where "air defenses intercepted and destroyed a number of drones... which attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province."
"These terrorist attempts originated from Iraqi territory and were carried out by terrorist militias affiliated with Iran," Malki said.
Riyadh reported a similar drone attempt originating from Iraq a day earlier. Baghdad denied the claims, stating there is no evidence the attacks were launched from its territory.
Amid the tensions, an Iraqi security delegation visited Riyadh this week.