ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should not target Iraqi territory as it has not been used for strikes on Iran, while condemning all attacks on Iraq as well as the “shameless actions” of militias dragging the country into “a pointless war.”

“Since this holy land was not a launching point for bombing the Islamic Republic, then our brothers in the Revolutionary Guard must not bomb our independent and holy lands. Likewise, the rogue militias must not give our brothers in the Gulf Arab states a pretext to target our holy land,” Sadr said in a statement.

The Saudi defense ministry said late Tuesday that it intercepted numerous drones allegedly launched by pro-Iran militias in Iraq seeking to target oil infrastructure, calling on Baghdad “to take all necessary steps” to prevent further attacks.

Hours later, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out strikes against the militias in Iraq linked to the attacks on Saudi Arabia, accusing the factions of targeting US interests in the region based on IRGC orders.

The strikes targeted several bases of the state-integrated but Iran-backed paramilitary umbrella group, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), across the country, killing at least 20 fighters and injuring 32 others.

“I condemn the shameless actions of the militias to drag Iraq into a pointless war. I call upon the Iraqi government to establish security, enforce sovereignty, and work diligently for the safety of the Iraqi people and their holy sites,” Sadr added.

The PMF has long been accused of operating outside Baghdad's authority and carrying out military action at the behest of Tehran.

Iran-aligned militias have also repeatedly launched projectiles at the Kurdistan Region throughout the US-Israel war with Iran, targeting critical infrastructure and US military bases. Kurdish authorities have called on Baghdad to rein in the groups and hold them accountable.

The Iraqi government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has led a renewed drive to disarm militias and restrict weapons to state control. The initiative is heavily backed by Washington, which has long pushed for the groups – many of which have strong ties to Iran – to be disarmed.

Several pro-Iran Iraqi factions have already announced their willingness to hand over weapons and integrate into the state security apparatus, with some also declaring willingness to sever their ties with the PMF.

In May, Sadr announced the complete separation of his Saraya al-Salam armed group and its complete integration into Iraq’s security apparatus, a move welcomed by Iraqi leaders, including Zaidi, who described it as a “responsible national position supporting state institutions, sovereignty, and the rule of law.”