BAGHDAD, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for Iraq's pro-Iranian militias, said on Friday it had postponed a planned retaliation against U.S. and Saudi forces.
A statement by the group said the decision was in response to calls from Shiite political leaders.
The group had demanded the Iraqi government take firm diplomatic or security action regarding joint U.S.-Saudi airstrikes on July 29, which targeted sites of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of primarily Shiite militias, leaving 20 dead.
The group had previously threatened to launch retaliatory attacks if the government failed to adopt an official stance against the strikes. A deadline it set expired on Friday.
Saudi Arabia said on July 27 that it intercepted drones launched from Iraq that attempted to target its oil facilities. The kingdom responded by launching the airstrikes along with the United States, which has long sought to curb pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
Iraq said no evidence had been provided to prove the drone attacks on Saudi soil were launched from Iraqi territory. ■
