Lead:
Iraqi authorities have intensified their response to drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, launching investigations into security officials in Maysan province and discovering unmanned aircraft launch platforms near the Iran border. Multiple regional and international entities condemned the strikes, while Iraqi leadership rejected accusations that Baghdad was complicit, pledging to prevent its territory from being used as a staging ground for attacks on neighboring states.
Details:
According to reporting from multiple Saudi news outlets, Iraqi security forces discovered drone launch platforms in the remote Al-Tayyib area of Maysan province, located near the Iranian border, in the days following the September 12 attack on the pipeline infrastructure. In parallel, Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaydi issued orders transferring security agency directors in Maysan to new postings and referring them for investigation, signaling administrative consequences for the apparent security breach.
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Hiba al-Halbousi directly addressed the incident, stating that Iraq would not permit its territory to be used as a platform for attacks against neighboring countries and emphasizing the state's commitment to monopolizing control of weaponry. President Nizar Ameedi condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed support for Riyadh's countermeasures while rejecting the notion that Baghdad bore responsibility for the assault.
The attack itself targeted the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions on September 11-12. In response, numerous regional actors—including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, and international partners including the United Kingdom—issued formal condemnations. Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Milliband communicated with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during a phone call affirming the Kingdom's right to respond and support for maritime security.
The U.S. Central Command reported that American forces had redirected 99 commercial vessels through September 11 to ensure full compliance with the embargo on Iran, contextualizing broader regional security tensions.
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Iraqi authorities have dismantled launch sites, transferred security officials, and vowed to prevent further attacks on Saudi infrastructure originating from Iraqi territory following drone strikes on the East-West pipeline.