Iraq won’t let its territory be used for attacks, Zaidi tells Saudi crown prince

RIYADH — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday that Iraq would not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia or other countries in the region, as he made a visit he had called off in July after U.S.-Saudi airstrikes on Iraqi forces.

Zaidi also condemned Saturday’s attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which killed 12 people and wounded 309, and reiterated Baghdad’s opposition to targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, his media office said. The two leaders discussed regional developments, security coordination and bilateral ties across various sectors. Zaidi stressed Iraq’s commitment to good-neighborly relations and respect for its neighbors’ sovereignty, and the crown prince expressed support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to promote dialogue and regional stability, the office said. No agreements were announced.

In an article in the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday, Zaidi called relations between the two countries central to regional security. Iraq was pursuing flexible economic diplomacy, avoiding alignment with rival regional blocs and positioning itself as a bridge for dialogue, he wrote, and stressed expanding trade routes and infrastructure links, including the Development Road project and transport connections with the Gulf.

U.S. and Saudi airstrikes on July 29 hit Popular Mobilization Forces positions in seven governorates, killing at least 20 PMF members and wounding 32, according to preliminary PMF figures. Washington and Riyadh said the strikes were a response to drone attacks on Saudi Arabia; Baghdad condemned them as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, and Zaidi canceled his visit. Contacts resumed in August, when Saudi intelligence chief Khalid al-Humaidan visited Baghdad and renewed the invitation.

Tensions flared again in September, when Saudi Arabia reported drone attacks on its East-West oil pipeline launched from Iraqi territory. Iraqi authorities identified the launch site in Maysan and Zaidi dismissed the commander of Maysan Operations, while Riyadh agreed to hold off on a response at his request.

The Iraqi government condemned the airport attack on Sunday, calling for an immediate halt to military operations, the protection of civilians and infrastructure, diplomatic solutions and freedom of aviation and navigation across the region. Kataib Hezbollah praised the attack on Monday.