Iraqi officials issued a statement Monday evening after drone launches targeted Saudi Arabia, saying Baghdad will not permit its territory to be used for attacks against neighboring countries, according to Israel's Channel 12 news.
Baghdad on Monday evening issued a formal pledge not to permit its territory to be used for attacks against neighboring countries, after drone launches targeted Saudi Arabia earlier in the day. The statement, reported by Israel's Channel 12 news, comes hours after Saudi Arabia intercepted several drones launched from Iraq by Iran-backed militias toward oil facilities in the eastern region and Riyadh, and after Riyadh condemned the attack and called on Baghdad to prevent such strikes.
The sequence of events began at approximately 15:13 Jerusalem on Monday, when the Saudi Defense Ministry announced it had intercepted drones launched from Iraq targeting oil facilities. Within minutes, the ministry identified the drones as launched by Iran-backed militias in Iraq affiliated with Iran. Saudi Arabia then condemned the attack and explicitly called on the Iraqi government to prevent strikes from its territory, as The Zioneer reported. The Iraqi statement now appears to be a direct response to that call.
The drone attacks come amid a broader regional confrontation. As The Zioneer reported on June 8, Iran struck Saudi Arabia and targeted a US air base, and the region has been on high alert since. Pakistan also condemned the drone strikes against Saudi Arabia on Monday evening, according to a report by The Zioneer.
The Iraqi pledge was reported by a single Israeli news outlet and has not been independently confirmed. It remains unclear whether Baghdad has the capacity to prevent Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq from launching further attacks. No damage or casualties were reported from the intercepted drones.
10 developments
- DevelopingPakistan condemns drone strikes against Saudi Arabia, won't allow its territory to be used for attacks
- StrongIraqi PM Ali Al-Zaidi condemns drone attack on Erbil airspace
- DevelopingDrone attack triggers explosions in Erbil, northern Iraq
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia condemns renewed Iranian strikes on Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait
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