At a Glance

• The PUK President condemned the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's pipeline, calling them a “dangerous escalation” for Iraq and the region.
• Talabani appealed to all parties to maintain maximum calm and avoid any retaliatory actions
• He emphasized that now is the time for diplomacy and a thorough investigation rather than allowing rising tensions to dictate actions.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Jalal Talabani on Saturday unequivocally condemned the recent drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, warning that the strikes mark a dangerous escalation threatening the stability of both Iraq and the wider region.

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Key Statement and Focus Area

• The PUK President stated, “The recent attack targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia marks a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of both Iraq and the broader region. We unequivocally condemn this attack and any act of violence that imperils civilian lives, violates national sovereignty, and destabilizes regional relations.”
• “We urgently appeal to all parties to exercise maximum calm and avoid any retaliatory measures or rhetoric that could further exacerbate the situation,” Talabani emphasized.

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The PUK President issued a statement regarding Thursday's attack on the East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, stressing that “at this critical juncture, restraint is paramount.”

Talabani warned that allowing rising tensions to dictate actions risks dragging the region into a deeper, unpredictable conflict despite initial accusations and denials, emphasizing that “now is the moment for diplomatic discipline.”

The PUK President called for a thorough probe into the strikes, arguing that reducing tensions must take precedence in order to allow room for peaceful, uninterrupted talks between Baghdad and local representatives.

“True security cannot be achieved through force, but through transparent engagement and a shared commitment to national and regional sovereignty,” he added.

Reaffirming his party's commitment to regional security, Talabani stated that the PUK remains “fully prepared to facilitate, support, and assist in any peaceful efforts or negotiations” to safeguard civilians and restore lasting peace.

FYI

This comes as the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced last night that the main East-West oil pipeline in the cities of Riyadh and Medina was attacked by drones from Iraq, resulting in casualties and material damage. 

In response to the cross-border strikes, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi executed an aggressive security purge, dismissing the top military and police commanders of Maysan province and ordering an investigation into all regional security chiefs. 

Additionally, Baghdad temporarily shut down key border crossings and requested that Saudi Arabia withhold immediate military retaliation to allow Iraqi authorities space to secure the frontier and address rogue factions 

The Kurdistan Region Presidency also denounced attacks, reaffirming its solidarity with Riyadh while stressing that Iraqi territory must not be used to threaten neighboring states. 

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