Iraqi Prime Minister pledges no use of Iraq as launchpad for attacks on Saudi Arabia

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi arrived in Riyadh for his inaugural trip to the kingdom after assuming office in May and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In the meeting, al-Zaidi declared that Iraq will not allow its land to serve as a base for attacks targeting Saudi Arabia or any other regional state, underscoring a policy of respecting sovereign borders and fostering friendly ties. The pledge comes amid heightened tensions after a drone assault on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, an alternative export route to the Strait of Hormuz, which Saudi authorities said originated from Iraqi territory.

Baghdad conducted its own investigation and concluded the strikes were carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, not from within Iraq. Al-Zaidi’s statement seeks to reassure Saudi officials and maintain stability in a volatile neighbourhood.