ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Baghdad on Monday expressed its “deep concern” over reports that facilities in Saudi Arabia were targeted by three drones entering from Iraq, noting that “no information had been recorded” by Iraqi surveillance systems regarding the incident, while affirming its readiness to cooperate with Riyadh to clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported assault.
In a statement, the Iraqi foreign ministry “expressed its deep concern over what has been circulated regarding facilities in the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia being targeted by three drones,” adding that it is “closely following up on this information,” as “the relevant authorities have immediately begun the necessary verification and investigation procedures to determine the circumstances and details.”
The ministry also confirmed that “no information regarding the incident has been recorded through Iraqi air defense systems or optical equipment,” calling on the Saudi authorities “to cooperate and exchange relevant information in order to reach accurate facts that enhance security and stability in both brotherly countries.”
The statement further asserted Iraq’s “firm position in respecting the security, safety, and sovereignty of brotherly states, rejecting any actions that could undermine their stability or threaten their national security or harm fraternal relations with sister countries,” and affirmed its “commitment to continued coordination and consultation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance security and stability in the region.”
A day earlier, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted and destroyed three drones after they entered its airspace from Iraq.
Saudi defense ministry Spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malkion Sunday stated that “on the morning of Sunday, May 17, 2026, three drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering Saudi Arabia’s airspace from Iraq.”
“The Ministry of Defense reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place and will implement all necessary operational measures to counter any attempted aggression against the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security, or the safety of its citizens and residents,” Malki affirmed.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following the Iran war and its wider spillover to Iraq and Gulf Arab states.
The US and Israel launched a large-scale aerial campaign against Iran in late February, striking thousands of targets across the country during six weeks of hostilities. In response, Iran carried out thousands of drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.
The Iranian response has also included strikes by factions aligned with the Iran-led ‘Axis of Resistance’, including by shadowy armed groups in Iraq that have claimed numerous attacks against alleged US targets in the country and the wider region.
The US and Iran later agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8, halting fighting to allow space for talks. While the first round of discussions concluded without a final agreement on April 11, a second round has yet to take place, as the war has yet to fully conclude.
In the aftermath of the truce, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry on April 8 reported that its forces have intercepted a total of 188 ballistic missiles and 477 drones launched toward the Kingdom. Of those, at least 110 drones and 75 missiles were specifically aimed at the Kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province and its energy and industrial infrastructure.
In mid-April, the United Arab Emirates handed the chargé d’affaires at the Iraqi embassy a “strongly worded” letter of protest over what it described as “terrorist attacks” launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-aligned armed groups targeting facilities in Gulf Arab states, despite the ongoing truce, warning that the continuation of such attacks places ties with Baghdad “under highly sensitive strain.”
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