ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Saudi Arabia said Friday that drones launched from Iraq struck its East-West oil pipeline, causing casualties and damage, prompting Baghdad to condemn the attack and announce an urgent investigation into those responsible.
The Saudi foreign ministry condemned “in the strongest terms” the targeting of the pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions by “several drones originating from Iraq,” saying the strikes caused “human casualties and some damage that is currently being addressed.”
Riyadh said it had decided against retaliating for now after Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi asked the kingdom to give Baghdad an opportunity to take measures to prevent attacks launched from Iraqi territory.
“The Kingdom has opted not to respond at this stage, and to support the efforts of the Iraqi government,” the Saudi foreign ministry said.
It added that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to “take all measures” necessary to protect its sovereignty, security, infrastructure, citizens and residents.
Baghdad swiftly condemned the strikes and reiterated that Iraqi territory would not be allowed to serve as a launchpad for attacks on other countries.
Zaidi ordered “an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the attacks and the parties behind them,” according to a statement from Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for Zaidi as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
The prime minister also ordered legal action against anyone found to have been involved, stressing that Baghdad “will not tolerate any activity that endangers Iraq or its relations with sisterly and friendly countries.”
The Iraqi government welcomed Riyadh’s decision to hold off on a response, saying the move reflected Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Iraq’s security and stability.
“Iraq reiterates that its territory and airspace will not be used as a launching pad for attacks against any country,” the statement said.
The exchange came as Iraqi security forces announced the seizure of dozens of drones and projectiles in the western province of Anbar amid a broader government push to bring weapons under state control.
The interior ministry said Friday that police discovered an abandoned site in Anbar’s Area 35 district containing 47 drones and 46 projectiles designed for use with the aircraft, as well as remote controllers, batteries and other equipment.
Authorities secured the site and seized the equipment while an investigation was launched into its origin and possible links to armed groups.
The discovery comes as Zaidi’s government intensifies efforts to disarm groups operating outside the state security apparatus, weeks before the US-led international coalition’s mission in Iraq is scheduled to end on September 30.
Iraq has repeatedly sought to prevent its territory from being drawn into regional confrontations involving Iran-aligned armed factions.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella group of Iran-aligned factions with links to elements of the state-sponsored Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), sided with Tehran during its six-week war with the United States and Israel from late February to mid-April.
During the conflict, the group claimed hundreds of attacks on US forces in Iraq and targets elsewhere in the region, putting pressure on Baghdad’s declared neutrality.
The group has also been accused of previous attacks against Saudi Arabia, which prompted retaliatory strikes on PMF positions.
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