Iraq has pledged not to allow its territory to be used for attacks against neighboring states as authorities continue an investigation into drones launched from Iraqi territory towards Saudi Arabia.
Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, said Baghdad had formed an intelligence committee to investigate the incident and had identified the site from which the drones were launched.
According to Maan, intelligence officers, technical specialists and forensic teams are examining evidence, including fingerprints, as part of efforts to identify those responsible.
No group has been officially identified by the Iraqi government as responsible for the attack, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Maan said Iraq would not permit attacks against states in the region and stressed that Baghdad wanted to remain a point of regional convergence rather than become involved in conflicts it did not seek.
He also said the government had maintained communication with Saudi Arabia and informed Riyadh of the measures being taken following the incident.
“Iraq respects and appreciates all neighboring countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Maan said, according to reporting based on the Iraqi News Agency.
The investigation follows drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s strategic East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions. Saudi authorities said the drones had originated from Iraqi territory and that the attack caused injuries and material damage.
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Riyadh subsequently held back from an immediate response after the Iraqi government requested time to investigate and prevent its territory from being used for further attacks.
Iraqi authorities earlier said security forces had located and seized a drone-launching platform linked to the attack. The equipment was found in Iraqi territory, while security operations and forensic work continued to determine who organized and carried out the operation.
The case has emerged as a significant test for Baghdad as it seeks to maintain balanced relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran while limiting the ability of armed actors to draw Iraq into wider regional confrontations.
Maan has previously described Baghdad’s approach as one of “preventive sovereignty,” under which Iraqi territory should neither be attacked nor used as a platform for operations against another country.
The attack is particularly sensitive because the East-West Pipeline provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative route for transporting oil to the Red Sea without relying on the Strait of Hormuz.
Any sustained threat originating from Iraqi territory could therefore carry consequences beyond bilateral relations, affecting regional energy security at a time when maritime routes across the Gulf and Red Sea are already facing heightened pressure.
Baghdad’s latest statements appear aimed at reassuring Riyadh while avoiding premature attribution before investigators establish responsibility.
For Iraq, the investigation will also test the state’s ability to enforce control over its territory and prevent regional rivalries from opening another front inside the country.
Anoush Taimur is an International Relations graduate from DHA Suffa University, Karachi, currently based in Doha. Her research interests include Gulf politics, small-state diplomacy, Global South studies and conflict
mediation. Her work examines how states create influence through connectivity, institutions and strategic relationships. She can be reached at [email protected]
