ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Pro-Iran Iraqi militia groups were targeted by both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the recent regional war, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing informed sources, coming amid a wave of discontent among Gulf states who incurred strikes orchestrated by the groups in question.

In late April, Kuwait's defense ministry announced that two Kuwaiti border sites were attacked by two drones originating from Iraq.

Following the incidents, several regional countries condemned the attacks, coming as regional states increasingly voiced their frustration over attacks emanating from within Iraq's borders.

The outlet reported that, following talks with several Iraqi security and military officials and a Western official, it has learned that Iraq was targeted by both Kuwaiti and Saudi responses but remained largely unreported due to the wider US and Israeli campaign against Iran starting in late February. 

The Saudi strikes were carried out by its Air Force fighter jets against pro-Iran Iraqi militia targets near the kingdom’s northern border with Iraq, a Western official said, adding that the operations likely took place around April 7, during the period of US-Iran ceasefire talks.

The Saudi strikes targeted Iraqi sites from which the country and other Gulf states were reportedly targeted, the source added.

Iraq was targeted on at least two occasions by Kuwait, including one strike in southern Iraq in April that reportedly killed several fighters and destroyed a facility used by Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah for communications and drone operations, Reuters added, citing an Iraqi source. 

Iran-backed militias are operating surveillance drones along Iraq’s borders with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, collecting intelligence for Iran, according to security sources cited by Reuters.

"They are gathering information on what has been ​damaged, what is still working. They are preparing for the next strike," the informed source said. 

Reuters also reported that Baghdad was warned in March by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait through diplomatic channels to curb rocket and drone attacks by pro-Iranian groups against Gulf states.

In late March, Iraq’s foreign ministry reaffirmed its rejection of any attacks targeting Gulf states and Jordan, stressing that the security of Arab countries is part of Iraq’s national security. 

Earlier in the month, major Gulf countries also urged Iraq to “immediately” stop attacks by pro-Iran armed groups operating from its territory, reaffirming their right to self-defense.