At a Glance

• The Kurdistan Region Presidency condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and backed federal investigative measures.
• The presidency said Iraqi soil must not be used as a launchpad for threats or aggression.
• The Iraqi Prime Minister sacked Maysan's military and police chiefs after drone launch sites were traced to the province.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency denounced attacks targeting oil pipelines in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its full solidarity with Riyadh while stressing that Iraqi territory must not be used to threaten neighboring states.

---

Key Statements and Focus Area

• The presidency stated, “We condemn the attacks carried out against the oil pipelines in the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we reaffirm our full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and our commitment to its security and stability.”
• “We also emphasize that Iraqi territory must not become a source of any threat or aggression against neighboring countries,” the statement noted.

---

Following attacks on the East-West oil pipeline (operated by Saudi Aramco) in the Riyadh and Medina regions, which were reportedly launched from Iraqi territory, the Kurdistan Region Presidency issued a statement on Saturday expressing its support for the Iraqi federal government's measures to investigate the violations, uncover the facts, and hold those responsible accountable.

“Respecting the sovereignty of nations, maintaining good neighborly relations, and resorting to dialogue and cooperation are the most appropriate paths to protect the security and stability of Iraq, as well as to strengthen peace and stability in the region,” the statement added.

Following the strikes, Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Ali Faleh al-Zaidi dismissed the Maysan Operations Commander and ordered an official investigative council after findings confirmed that recent drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia were launched from within the province.

Furthermore, al-Zaidi dismissed the Maysan Police Commander and ordered that all regional security agency chiefs be removed from their posts and referred for investigation.

FYI

The drone strike on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline occurred amid ongoing regional conflicts that have heavily disrupted maritime shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz. 

Because the 1,200 km pipeline serves as Saudi Arabia's primary alternative route to export crude oil via the Red Sea, the attack caused global oil prices to surge past $100 a barrel.

The previous major cross-border attack this year occurred on July 29, when Iraqi armed groups launched a salvo of over 30 drones targeting U.S. forces and Saudi infrastructure. 

In a swift response, the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted joint retaliatory airstrikes across seven eastern Iraqi provinces, killing at least 20 members. 

The drone attacks directly prompted Prime Minister al-Zaidi to hold urgent intelligence meetings with Saudi Arabia to prevent further cross-border escalations. 

During those high-level security talks, al-Zaidi provided explicit assurances to Riyadh that Iraqi territory would not be used by armed groups to threaten the Kingdom. 

Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You

Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:

Saudi Arabia Halts Critical Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks Launched from Iraq

Iraq Temporarily Closes Shalamcheh Crossing Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Al-Zaidi Mandates Crackdown on Cross-Border Attacks From Iraq