Iraq firmly rejected claims on Thursday that it coordinated or facilitated the recent US-Saudi strikes, saying the government neither authorized the operation nor received prior notice. Baghdad stressed that it remains committed to protecting its sovereignty and preventing Iraqi territory from being used to launch attacks against neighboring countries.
Government rejects allegations
Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said Iraq’s Ministerial Council for National Security condemned the military strikes as a violation of the country’s sovereignty, according to the Iraqi News Agency. He emphasized that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only sustainable path to reducing tensions across the Middle East.
Al-Aboudi said the government had “not and will not allow” Iraqi territory to serve as a platform for attacks against neighboring states. He also rejected allegations that Baghdad approved strikes targeting locations inside Iraq or had any prior knowledge of the military operation.
Call for evidence
The spokesperson revealed that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had postponed his planned visit to Saudi Arabia following the attacks. He added that Baghdad had formally requested Saudi authorities to provide evidence supporting claims that Iraqi territory had been used to launch attacks against the kingdom’s oil facilities.
According to al-Aboudi, Iraqi investigative committees have so far found no proof to support those allegations. “We call on Saudi Arabia to share the security information it possesses so it can be verified,” he said.
Regional tensions
Al-Aboudi stated that the strikes hit targets in seven Iraqi provinces, leaving more than 18 members of the Popular Mobilization Forces dead and another 20 injured. He reiterated that Iraq seeks balanced relations with all neighboring countries while avoiding involvement in regional conflicts.
The comments followed coordinated US-Saudi strikes carried out earlier this week. Saudi Arabia said the operation was conducted under Article 51 of the UN Charter in response to attacks launched from Iraqi territory against its petroleum infrastructure. US President Donald Trump said the strikes had been coordinated with Baghdad, a claim Iraqi officials have repeatedly denied.