Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi ordered a probe on Monday into Saudi Arabia’s accusation that drones targeting the kingdom were fired from Iraqi soil, threatening legal measures against anybody found to be guilty. The decision came two days after Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said that it intercepted and destroyed drones fired from Iraq by Iran-backed militias targeting installations in the kingdom’s Eastern Province and the capital, Riyadh. According to a statement issued by his office, Al-Zaidi directed security officials to analyze the intelligence given by Saudi Arabia and establish if Iraqi land was utilized to conduct the assaults.
The government said that it remained dedicated to preventing Iraqi land from being used as a base or transit route for attacks on neighboring nations and that individuals found to have engaged in such crimes would be prosecuted in accordance with the inquiry results. Baghdad also underlined its commitment to maintaining tight relations with Saudi Arabia, characterizing the two nations’ relationship as founded on mutual respect, similar interests, and good neighborly relations. The inquiry comes at a crucial moment for Al-Zaidi, who is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia for discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after previous travels to the United States and Iran to enhance Iraq’s economic and diplomatic ties.
The reported drone launches have highlighted one of the most challenging issues for Al-Zaidi’s administration as it seeks to attract foreign investment while maintaining state authority over armed groups that operate outside the government’s direct supervision. Iraq’s Prime Minister has frequently said that its territory would not be used to threaten neighboring nations, as Baghdad aims to strike a balance with Iran, the United States, and Gulf Arab countries while presenting itself as a regional center for commerce, investment, and transportation. The post Iraq orders probe into alleged drone launches targeting Saudi Arabia appeared first on Iraqi News.
Saudi Arabia said Monday it intercepted and destroyed drones launched from Iraq that targeted oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province and Riyadh, while Iraq ordered a...
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