Another Escalation in the Middle East: Strikes That Sparked a Crisis Between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falah al-Zaidi condemned US-Saudi airstrikes on Iraqi territory and canceled a planned visit to Riyadh. Iraq formulated a security plan to protect its sovereignty, while the US and Saudi Arabia claim the strikes were a response to more than 30 drone attacks against Saudi Arabia within 72 hours.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falah al-Zaidi condemned the airstrikes carried out by the United States and Saudi Arabia on Iraqi territory and subsequently canceled his planned official visit to Riyadh, which was to be his first trip to Saudi Arabia since taking office in May. In an official statement following an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, Iraq condemned the attack and emphasized its opposition to any hostile military action, regardless of the executing party. The council decided to formulate a comprehensive security plan to take control of the area and prevent threats to neighboring countries. The United States and Saudi Arabia stated that the strikes were carried out in response to more than 30 drone attacks against Saudi Arabia within 72 hours, and that the targets were used by Iran-backed militias. In contrast, armed groups in Iraq denied responsibility for the launches. Iraq called on all parties to avoid escalation and announced that it would continue its plan to centralize weapons under state control and complete the agreement for the withdrawal of international coalition forces.