Iran12 September, 20262 min read
Iraq Finds Drone Launchers Near Iran Border After Saudi Arabia Pipeline Attack
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Iraqi security found drone launchers near the Iraq–Iran border tied to Saudi pipeline attack. Iraq closed three border crossings with Iran amid the drone investigation.
Drone pads near border
Iraq found drone launchers near the border with Iran in the al-Tib remote region in southern Maysan province after an attack on a Saudi Arabia East-West pipeline that Riyadh and Baghdad said was launched from Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi said earlier Saturday he agreed to an Iranian request for a joint investigation into the discovery of drone launch platforms near the Iraqi-Iranian border, according to the prime minister’s office.
A security official told AFP that “security forces found drone launchers near the Iraq-Iranian border in the al-Tib” as authorities examined how the platforms were used to launch attacks on the pipeline. The investigation was also tied to security steps in Iraq, including an order to close three border crossings with Iran as part of an intelligence effort to track down perpetrators and prevent their escape.
Baghdad, Riyadh, and statements
Iraq’s prime minister and commander-in-chief Ali al-Zaidi approved the Iranian request for a joint investigation, and the Iraqi army announced the probe would be conducted jointly regarding drone-launch platforms discovered near the border strip between Iraq and Iran. Rudaw reported that the investigation would focus on the area around the al-Sheeb border crossing in Maysan province, hours after Iraq confirmed the latest drone attack on neighboring Saudi Arabia was launched from Iraq’s Maysan province.
Saudi Arabia said it had decided against retaliating for now after Zaidi asked the kingdom to give Baghdad an opportunity to take measures to prevent further attacks launched from Iraqi territory, with the Saudi foreign ministry stating, “The Kingdom has opted not to respond at this stage, and to support the efforts of the Iraqi government.” In Baghdad, Iraqi state media reported that the al-Sheeb border crossing would be closed indefinitely, except for travelers and pilgrims stranded on either side of the border, and that the Shalamcheh crossing in Basra province has likewise been closed to travelers, pilgrims and commercial traffic.
What comes next
As Iraq pursued the joint investigation and tightened border measures, the Iraqi prime minister dismissed a military commander after investigations confirmed the latest drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia originated from Iraq, according to a statement by Iraq’s prime minister’s office. The National reported that Mr Al Zaidi dismissed the military commander Maysan province, south of Baghdad, from which the drones were fired, and ordered the dismissal of the provincial police chief, while the prime minister’s military spokesman Sabah Al Numan said orders were also issued for the transfer of the province’s security agency directors to the reserve command reserve.
The National also said Mr Al Zaidi ordered the closing of “several” border crossings with Iran, and that a security official described the move as meant to “track down the perpetrators and prevent their escape.” The same reporting framed the immediate stakes as preventing further attacks from Iraqi territory, with Saudi Arabia saying it would not retaliate “at this stage” while reserving the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and critical sites.