Iraq Denounces Saudi-US Strikes as Violation of Sovereignty
Iraq's National Security Council has strongly condemned the recent Saudi-US airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 members of the paramilitary group. The council, led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, characterized the strikes as a "flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and the sanctity of its lands." In a statement shared on X, the council labeled the attacks as "an aggression" that contravenes international law and the United Nations Charter. It emphasized that any infringement on Iraq's security and sovereignty would be met with zero tolerance.
The joint airstrikes, conducted by Saudi Arabia and the US Central Command (CENTCOM), were aimed at Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq that they allege are responsible for attacks on American troops and Saudi energy infrastructure. The Saudi Ministry of Defence stated that the strikes were a response to recent drone attacks, claiming that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones targeting petroleum facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, which were reportedly launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-aligned militias.
In response, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of groups backed by Iran, denied involvement in the alleged attacks on Saudi Arabia, labeling the Saudi claims as "fabrications" and warning that any aggressive actions would provoke a severe response. The airstrikes spanned from Kirkuk in northern Iraq to Basra in the south, resulting in casualties that included at least four advisers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to reports from Iranian and Iraqi media.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday, marking his first official trip since taking office, but the visit has been canceled in light of the attacks. Iraqi officials have expressed frustration, stating that the US-Saudi actions have obstructed investigations into the alleged attacks on Saudi Arabia. A spokesperson for Iraq’s armed forces demanded evidence regarding the claims of attacks originating from Iraq, noting that no proof has been provided.
Public sentiment in Iraq has turned against the strikes, with funerals held in Mosul for the PMF fighters killed, where mourners called for revenge. Protests have erupted in Baghdad, with PMF supporters demanding the expulsion of the Saudi ambassador. The Iran-aligned paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah has issued an ultimatum to the Iraqi government, stating it has until August 6 to demonstrate its capability to defend Iraq’s sovereignty, warning that an immediate response to the US-Saudi attack is "inevitable."
