Baghdad suspends PM's Saudi visit after attacks, which followed US pressure to disarm Iran-backed groups
Iraq denies approving US-Saudi strikes that killed 20 militants
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Summary
Iraq's government denied any prior knowledge or approval of US-Saudi strikes on its territory that killed at least 20 militants, including five Iranians, according to Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi alliance. A government spokesperson, Haider al-Aboudi, stated on state TV that Baghdad did not approve any attacks on specific sites or groups, contradicting US claims of coordination. The strikes followed US pressure on Iraq to disarm Iran-backed groups, which have targeted US facilities in the region.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's planned visit to Saudi Arabia was suspended due to the attacks, which came after Riyadh intercepted drones targeting its oil facilities and blamed Iraq-based groups. The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied attacking Saudi Arabia and warned of an inevitable response. Washington and Tehran are Iraq's main allies, but their rivalry has long made the country a proxy battleground, with successive governments struggling to balance between them. Zaidi, who came to power in May with US support, has vowed to disarm these groups.
Cross-referenced from 7 sources across 4 countries and 3 languages. The account holds across the geopolitical divide.
Factual coreconfirmed by several independent voices
US-Saudi strikes killed at least 20 militants, including five Iranians, according to Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi alliance. (EPA Images pic) BAGHDAD: Iraq did not approve deadly US-Saudi strikes on its territory, a government spokesperson said Thursday, after US claims that the attacks against Iran-backed militants were coordinated with Baghdad. "The government did not have any knowledge" of the strikes and "did not approve any attacks on specific sites or groups in Iraq," spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on state TV.
reliability low1/2 sourcesAboudi said that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's expected visit to Saudi Arabia was "suspended" due to the attacks, which came after Riyadh said its forces had intercepted drones targeting oil facilities, blaming the Iran-backed groups in Iraq.
reliability low1/2 sourcesThe strikes follow growing US pressure on Baghdad to disarm those groups, which intervened in support of Tehran during the Middle East war, targeting US facilities in Iraq and across the region.
reliability low1/2 sourcesUS President Donald Trump "says those strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government", a Fox News correspondent said after speaking with the US leader.
reliability low1/2 sourcesTehran-backed armed groups, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, denied attacking Saudi Arabia, and warned that their response to the attacks in Iraq is "inevitable." Washington and Tehran are Iraq's main allies, but their enmity has long turned the country into a proxy battleground and left successive governments struggling to maintain a delicate balance between the foes.
reliability low1/2 sourcesZaidi, who came to power in May with Trump's blessing, has vowed to ensure those groups hand over their weapons.
reliability low1/2 sources
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These are the first official estimates of the largest migration crisis since 2021.
according to RIA NovostiThe disarmament of Hamas is, according to him, an important step in the implementation of the 20-point plan that achieved a ceasefire last September.
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