In a remarkable development against the backdrop of the attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia and the UAE with drones launched from Iraqi territory, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the formation of a high-level investigation committee to uncover the circumstances of what he described as “criminal attacks,” stressing that the investigation will be joint with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
Al-Zaidi said, in a post on the “X” platform, that the committee was formed during the first meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security, with the aim of reviewing all evidence related to the use of Iraqi lands in attacks, and taking security and legal measures against those involved.
The Iraqi Prime Minister also renewed his country’s condemnation of the attacks, stressing Baghdad’s refusal to use its lands or airspace as a starting point for attacks on “brotherly and friendly countries,” stressing that Iraq seeks to enhance regional stability and protect common interests in the region.
This move comes after Saudi Arabia announced the interception and destruction of 3 drones that entered its airspace coming from Iraq on May 17, with Riyadh confirming that it reserves the right to respond “at the appropriate time and place.”
On the other hand, the UAE called on the Iraqi government to “prevent all hostile actions” emanating from its territory, following the attack that targeted the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant with drones, and hit an electrical generator outside the inner scope of the plant in the Al Dhafra region.
Abu Dhabi stressed the need to deal immediately with these threats, while other Gulf countries took diplomatic steps towards Baghdad, which included summoning Iraqi ambassadors or chargés d’affaires in protest against the continued attacks and threats.
For its part, the Iraqi government confirmed that it did not monitor the launching of drones from its airspace, indicating that investigations were continuing in coordination with the relevant authorities, amid mounting fears of expanding security tension in the Gulf in the wake of the ongoing regional escalation.
