Iraq has ordered the closure of the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after investigations linked recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia to Iraqi territory.
The decision was taken as a precautionary security measure while Iraqi authorities launched a large-scale operation to identify and pursue those responsible for the attacks.
Two Iraqi security sources told Reuters that the Shalamcheh crossing had been closed following the latest strikes against Saudi Arabia.
The border point is one of the important crossings connecting southern Iraq with Iran. It is also used for trade and movement between the two countries.
The closure comes as Baghdad faces growing pressure to prevent Iraqi territory from being used for attacks against neighbouring states.
Iraqi Commander Removed After Investigation
Iraq has also dismissed a senior military commander after an investigation concluded that the drones used in the latest attacks on Saudi Arabia were launched from Iraqi territory.
The commander was responsible for military operations in Maysan province in southern Iraq, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office.
The government did not immediately provide further details about the commander’s role or whether officials believe he was directly involved in the attacks.
However, the dismissal signals that Baghdad is treating the incident as a serious breach of national security.
Authorities are now carrying out a wider investigation into the groups or individuals responsible for launching the drones.
The Iraqi government is also under pressure to demonstrate that armed groups operating inside the country cannot independently launch cross-border military operations.
The investigation is particularly sensitive because several powerful Iran-aligned armed groups operate in Iraq.
Some of these factions maintain significant military capabilities and have previously been accused of launching attacks against US forces and regional targets.
The Iraqi government has repeatedly said that decisions involving war and peace must remain under the authority of the state.
The latest incident is expected to intensify pressure on Baghdad to strengthen control over armed factions operating outside the formal military chain of command.
Saudi Pipeline Attack Raises Regional Security Concerns
The Iraqi measures followed drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline.
Saudi Arabia said the drones were launched from Iraq.
The kingdom temporarily shut the pipeline as a precaution after pumping infrastructure was hit.
The East-West Pipeline is one of Saudi Arabia’s most strategically important energy routes.
It stretches approximately 1,200 kilometres across the Arabian Peninsula and allows Saudi crude oil to move from eastern production areas toward Red Sea export terminals.
The pipeline has become even more important during the current regional crisis because it allows Saudi Arabia to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
Recent shipping disruptions around Hormuz have severely limited tanker traffic through the waterway.
The East-West Pipeline has reportedly been carrying between four million and five million barrels of oil per day in recent months.
That volume represents roughly four to five percent of global oil supply, making any prolonged disruption potentially significant for international energy markets.
Saudi Arabia said several people were injured during the attacks.
Emergency and technical teams were deployed to secure the affected facilities and determine the extent of the damage.
Saudi authorities have not announced immediate military retaliation against Iraq.
Riyadh said it would hold back from responding after a request from the Iraqi prime minister.
However, Saudi Arabia stressed that it reserved the right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, national security and critical infrastructure.
Baghdad Launches Wider Security Operation
Iraqi security forces have launched a broad operation to locate those responsible for the Saudi attacks.
The decision to close the Shalamcheh crossing is part of those wider security measures.
Officials have not publicly identified the group suspected of launching the drones.
The investigation will likely focus on southern Iraq because of the reported launch location and the dismissal of the Maysan operations commander.
Maysan province borders Iran and has long been considered strategically sensitive because of cross-border movement and the presence of armed groups.
The government now faces the challenge of determining whether the attacks were carried out independently by an Iraqi faction or as part of a wider regional operation.
Any confirmed involvement by an Iran-aligned militia could further complicate Iraq’s relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Baghdad has tried to maintain close relations with Tehran while simultaneously strengthening ties with Riyadh and other Gulf countries.
The drone attacks risk placing Iraq directly inside the growing regional confrontation.
Iraq Faces Pressure Between Iran and Gulf States
Iraq has spent years trying to balance relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Iran maintains extensive political, economic and security influence inside Iraq.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has sought closer diplomatic and economic ties with Baghdad as part of wider efforts to improve relations with Iraq.
The latest attacks could threaten that balance.
If armed groups are able to use Iraqi territory to strike Saudi infrastructure, Riyadh may demand stronger action from Baghdad.
At the same time, aggressive action against Iran-aligned armed groups could trigger political and security tensions inside Iraq.
The Iraqi government is already facing challenges in bringing powerful militias fully under state control.
Some armed factions possess significant military resources and maintain their own political influence.
The latest investigation therefore represents more than a criminal inquiry.
It is also a test of whether the Iraqi state can prevent its territory from becoming a launching point for attacks in the expanding Middle East conflict.
The temporary closure of the Shalamcheh crossing and the dismissal of the military commander demonstrate Baghdad’s attempt to respond quickly.
Further developments will depend on whether Iraqi authorities identify the perpetrators and whether additional security measures are introduced along the Iranian border.
For now, the Saudi pipeline attack has created another pressure point in an already volatile region, placing Iraq under growing scrutiny from both its neighbours and international partners.
