ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region Presidency on Saturday strongly condemned a drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure that Baghdad confirmed was launched from Iraqi territory, as regional countries voiced solidarity with Riyadh and an Iran-aligned Iraqi coalition of armed groups denied involvement.
“We strongly condemn the attack carried out against Saudi Arabia’s Aramco facilities and express our full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and our support for its security and stability,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a statement.
The Presidency also backed measures taken by the Iraqi federal government to investigate the attack, uncover the circumstances surrounding it and hold those responsible accountable.
“We emphasize that Iraqi territory must not become a source of threats against any neighboring country or a platform for violations,” it added, stressing that respect for sovereignty and good-neighborly relations are essential to Iraq’s stability.
Saudi Arabia said on Friday that several drones launched from Iraq struck its strategic East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, causing casualties and damage. The pipeline was temporarily shut down as a precaution.
Baghdad early Saturday confirmed that the attack originated from a location in the southern province of Maysan. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered the dismissal of the head of the Maysan Operations Command and the formation of an investigative board.
Saudi Arabia said it had decided not to retaliate “at this stage” following a request from Zaidi to give Baghdad an opportunity to take measures to prevent further attacks from Iraqi territory. Riyadh nevertheless said it reserved the right to take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and facilities.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella group of Iran-aligned factions, denied involvement in the attack on Saturday, describing the accusations against it as “an honor we do not claim.”
The group criticized Baghdad for what it called its “rush to endorse these allegations without relying on credible evidence or concrete investigations.”
The IRI reiterated its support for Yemen and warned against what it described as efforts to drag Iraq into regional crises.
“We declare our readiness to participate in any government investigative committee aimed at establishing the truth, rather than being led by suspicious narratives,” the group said.
The IRI, which has links to elements of Iraq’s state-sponsored Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), sided with Tehran during its six-week war with the United States and Israel earlier this year and claimed hundreds of attacks on US forces and other targets in the region.
The attack has also drawn condemnation from regional states and organizations, including the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Abu Dhabi has repeatedly described drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi oil facilities as violations of the kingdom’s sovereignty and threats to its “security and stability,” while affirming its support for measures taken by Riyadh to safeguard the country.
Iraq has repeatedly sought to prevent its territory from being drawn into regional confrontations involving Iran-aligned armed factions. The latest incident marks a rare acknowledgment by Baghdad that Iraqi territory was used as a launchpad for an attack on a neighboring country.
