Iraq has warned that its territory must not become a launchpad for attacks against neighbouring countries.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Baghdad would stop any action against neighbouring states originating from Iraqi soil. He also ordered tighter security along border routes.
Iraq Moves to Tighten Border Security
Al-Zaidi stressed that protecting Iraq’s security and independence remains a top priority for his government.
He has ordered authorities to further strengthen security along border routes. Meanwhile, he formed a high-level committee to investigate recent incidents.
The Iraqi military has also launched an investigation into the reported attack on a Saudi oil pipeline. In addition, the prime minister dismissed a senior military commander following the incident.
The developments come after Saudi Arabia said a drone attack against its East-West Pipeline originated from Iraqi territory.
Saudi Arabia Reports Drone Attack
Saudi authorities said the reported drone strike targeted the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions.
Following the attack, the pipeline was temporarily shut down, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The ministry condemned “the targeting of the East–West pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions by several drones coming from Iraq, which caused human injuries and damage”.
An energy ministry official also said, “The pipeline was stopped as a precaution, and the attacks resulted in some injuries,”.
Saudi authorities had earlier said drones launched from Iraq forced the temporary closure of a crucial oil export route.
The route provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has remained closed amid the wider regional conflict.
Saudi Arabia Holds Back From Retaliation
Saudi Arabia has increased its reliance on the East-West Pipeline since the start of the Middle East war.
The pipeline connects Abqaiq, near the Gulf, with Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. It therefore provides an alternative route for transporting Saudi oil.
Despite the reported attack, Riyadh has decided against military retaliation at this stage.
The decision followed a request from the Iraqi prime minister. Baghdad asked for time to introduce security measures preventing attacks from Iraqi territory.
Iraq Closes Border Crossing With Iran
Iraq has also decided to close the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran amid heightened regional tensions.
Meanwhile, satellite images from Copernicus Sentinel Data showed black smoke near Madinah on Thursday.
The smoke appeared along the general route of the East-West Pipeline. The pipeline carries Saudi oil toward the kingdom’s Red Sea coast.
The Iraqi government has condemned the reported attack on Saudi Arabia. It said the “attacks targeting our brethren in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia originated from a location within the governorate”.
Iraq’s latest security measures come as regional tensions continue to rise. Baghdad now faces the challenge of protecting its territory while preventing attacks against neighbouring countries from its soil.
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