US and Iraq form joint security committee to prevent attacks from Iraqi territory

BAGHDAD — The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and Iraq’s Joint Operations Command announced Friday the formation of a high-level joint coordination committee as part of their strategic partnership, with both sides agreeing to intensify cooperation to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure Iraqi territory is not used as a launching point for hostile actions.

The first meeting of the committee was held March 26, the embassy said, with both sides agreeing to work toward “the protection of American personnel, diplomatic missions, and coalition forces” while “reaffirming their commitment to keeping Iraq outside the scope of ongoing military conflict in the region, while fully respecting its sovereignty.”

Iraq’s Joint Operations Command confirmed the committee’s formation, saying its work “will continue to focus on counterterrorism coordination, granting Iraq the leading role in achieving shared objectives.” The Security Media Cell said the agreement covers securing diplomatic missions, protecting Iraqi security forces and vital facilities, and ensuring Iraqi land, airspace and territorial waters are not used to threaten Iraq or neighboring states.

The announcement comes days after six Arab states — Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan — jointly called on Baghdad to halt cross-border attacks by Iran-aligned factions operating from Iraqi soil, following claims by Saraya Awliya al-Dam that it had conducted drone and missile strikes over 22 days targeting those countries. Iraq’s Foreign Ministry rejected the use of its territory for such attacks and pledged to act on any evidence provided.

The committee’s formation also follows consecutive airstrikes on Habbaniyah base in Anbar that killed 22 military personnel over two days, which prompted Prime Minister Sudani to summon the U.S. chargé d’affaires, file a UN Security Council complaint and say Iraq has the right to respond “by all available means” — a tension the joint committee framework appears designed in part to manage.