Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Trump Meets Saudi Defence Minister After Joint Iraq Strikes
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, met with the Saudi Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, at the White House.
They talked after Saudi and U.S. forces hit Iranian-backed groups in Iraq.
The Saudi minister said the attacks were defensive, not a push for more fighting.
Trump’s Vice President was also in the meeting.
Iraq’s own forces said the attacks were a dangerous step and that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia were violating Iraq’s rules.
U.S. President Donald Trump met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House after joint strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
The meeting, added after a planned talk with Vice President J.D. Vance, focused on Saudi Arabia’s stance on a potential war with Iran and regional stability.
Saudi officials emphasized a preference for de‑escalation, saying the strikes were defensive and not a push toward wider conflict.
U.S. Central Command and Saudi forces carried out the strikes on July 28 in response to more than 30 drone attacks on U.S. and Saudi targets in Iraq.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and accused Washington and Riyadh of violating Iraq’s sovereignty.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Central Command, Saudi forces, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi
- What
- Meeting at the White House after joint strikes on Iran-backed militias; discussion of war with Iran and regional stability; de-escalation stance
- When
- July 28, 2024 (strikes) and July 29, 2024 (meeting)
- Where
- White House, Washington, D.C.; Iraq
- Why
- To address regional tensions, respond to drone attacks, discuss potential war with Iran, and promote de-escalation
- Meeting Date
- July 29, 2024
- Location
- White House, Washington, D.C.
- Participants
- Donald Trump, Prince Khalid bin Salman, J.D. Vance
- Joint Strike Date
- July 28, 2024
- Targeted Groups
- Iran-backed militias in Iraq
- Iraq's Response
- PMF condemned strikes as dangerous escalation