Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi has pledged to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) that Iraq will not let its soil serve as a base for strikes on Saudi Arabia. The assurance was relayed in a statement from al-Zaidi’s office, as cited by Iraqi media.
Al-Zaidi arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for his first trip to the kingdom since taking office in May. He also said attacks against other countries in the region should not be launched from Iraq.
The statement stressed Baghdad’s commitment to good neighbourly ties and to respecting the sovereignty of Iraq and friendly nations in the region.
Drone strike on the East-West oil pipeline
Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was hit by drones last month during the Houthis’ rapid offensive in Yemen. The attack forced Riyadh to temporarily shut the export route, which had been used as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
The pipeline has a maximum capacity of seven million barrels per day and has since resumed operations.
Saudi claims and Iraq’s own investigation
Saudi Arabia said the drone attack originated in Iraq. Baghdad carried out its own investigation and concluded that the strikes were launched from Iraqi territory.
