The Iraqi Prime Minister dismissed security commanders in the Maysan Governorate in the south of the country against the backdrop of launching bomb marches targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at dawn on Saturday, while the authorities closed border crossings with Iran in an attempt to besiege the perpetrators of the attack, according to security officials who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat.
US President Donald Trump held Iran “most likely” directly responsible for the attack on the “East-West” oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia via drones launched from Iraqi territory.
A statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office said that an army commander was relieved of his position after investigations confirmed that the latest drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia were launched from Iraq.
The statement stated that an order was issued “to relieve the operations commander (in Maysan Governorate) from his position, against the backdrop of proven attacks that targeted brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were launched from one of the locations within the governorate.”
Security sources said that the exemptions also included the police chief and other security and intelligence officials, coinciding with the arrival of a large security delegation to investigate the attacks and take over the security file there.
In a later development, the authorities closed three border crossings with Iran, according to officials. An Iraqi security source and government official confirmed that the authorities ordered the closure of three crossings, one of which is in Maysan Governorate.
A senior security official told Asharq Al-Awsat that the security authorities suspect the possibility of the perpetrators leaking through the border crossings, or using them to transport drones, adding that “the Iraqi security effort also focuses on preventing any party that helps the perpetrators escape.”
Agence France-Presse also quoted sources as saying that the decision to close the crossings comes “as part of an intelligence effort to track down the perpetrators and prevent his escape.”
The crossings included in the closure are: Al-Shalamcheh in Basra Governorate, Al-Shaib in Maysan, and the Mandali crossing in Diyala Governorate, while other crossings with Iran remained open.
The Security Media Cell stated that the authorities “began administrative and security reorganization processes at several border crossings.”
It confirmed the intensification of “intelligence activities” to identify “violations and violations that occurred at these crossings,” without specifying the intended border points.
Later, the Security Media Cell confirmed that passengers who had been stranded for hours at two crossings were allowed to cross.
Field sources also reported to Asharq Al-Awsat that “the authorities have gradually begun to allow passengers stranded at closed crossings to cross while security measures continue.”
Baghdad has repeatedly stressed its refusal to use its territory to target neighboring countries, emphasizing its work to limit weapons to the state, and the Al-Zaidi government is facing increasing American pressure on the issue of disarming the factions. This file has led to escalation of tension in recent weeks, with a number of factions refusing to give up their weapons.
However, the Iraqi security official confirmed that in the wake of the recent attack, “the authorities are moving to take further measures to put an end to such attacks,” without revealing what it was.
The official told Asharq Al-Awsat, “The government is serious about dealing with anyone who tampers with internal security and the security of neighboring countries, especially with the approaching withdrawal of the remaining foreign forces from the country at the end of this month.”
The security official suggested “the dismissal or dismissal of more security officials in the governorate or in other areas if their involvement or negligence is proven.”
In addition, Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein discussed, with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, the latest developments in the region, amid the repercussions of the attack that targeted an oil pipeline in the Kingdom with drones launched from Iraq.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said, in a statement, that Minister Hussein held, on Friday evening, a telephone call with Ibn Farhan, during which the depth of fraternal relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia was confirmed.
She added that the two sides exchanged views on developments in the region and issues of common interest, stressing the importance of continuing communication, coordination and consultation between the two countries, in a way that supports security and stability and enhances joint cooperation.
For its part, the Iraqi government appreciated the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia not to respond. The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Sabah Al-Numan, said in a statement that the Iraqi government appreciates the Kingdom’s position and its response to the efforts made by Iraq to contain the situation, which reflects its keenness for Iraq’s security and stability, and to continue the path of fraternal relations and cooperation in a way that serves the interests of the two brotherly peoples.
Al-Numan confirmed that the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, directed the opening of an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the attacks and the parties behind them, and that legal measures be taken against anyone proven to be involved, stressing that the state will not tolerate any activity that exposes Iraq or its relations with brotherly and friendly countries to danger.
On Saturday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Haibat Al-Halbousi, also condemned the attacks, stressing the importance of adhering to the principle of confining weapons to the state and its constitutional institutions and under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ali Al-Zaidi, while declaring his full support for the government’s measures to open an urgent investigation to uncover the parties involved and take legal measures against anyone proven to be involved.
For its part, the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq expressed its condemnation of the attacks that targeted oil pipelines in Saudi Arabia, stressing its “full solidarity with the Kingdom and its concern for its security and stability.”
In this context, media professor Ghaleb Al-Daami told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Iraqi government has shown seriousness so far in dealing with the targeting that has affected Saudi Arabia,” suggesting that “more stringent measures will be taken against groups that continue to violate the law by targeting neighboring countries.”
For his part, security expert Mukhled Hazem told Asharq Al-Awsat that the latest attack reflects “the factions’ indifference to dialogue with the government to resolve the weapons issue,” noting that “this time the government took deterrent measures in an attempt to obstruct any similar actions by these factions.”
Meanwhile, political activist Muntadhar Nasser noted “speed in government procedures,” and said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, “Closing the border crossings with Iran is unprecedented, and it has never happened that previous governments showed a quick reaction by changing senior officials, as happened with the Maysan operations commander, replacing another figure with him, and opening an urgent investigation.”
Nasser believed that “closing the southern crossings seemed to be a message to Tehran that Iraq no longer accepts such actions, and that things could develop into something worse between the two countries.”
