‘Saudi airstrike in Iraq targeted militias, not Iraqi state’

 Web Desk

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said its recent military strikes in Iraq were directed exclusively at militias responsible for attacks on Saudi territory and were not aimed at the Iraqi government or its people, reaffirming the Kingdom's commitment to its longstanding relationship with Iraq and its people.

A Saudi broadcaster reported on Friday, citing an official source, that the Kingdom's military operation was aimed at weapons depots and military facilities used by militias allegedly involved in recent drone attacks targeting Saudi oil installations and other critical infrastructure.

The official said the action was taken only after diplomatic and political efforts had failed to produce results, adding that Saudi Arabia had shown what he described as maximum restraint in responding to the escalating attacks over the past several months.

The official said the armed groups were acting against Iraq's national interests by using Iraqi territory and resources to launch attacks on neighboring countries, a practice he said had damaged Baghdad's relations with Arab and Islamic nations.

He reiterated that Saudi Arabia remains committed to its longstanding ties with Iraq and its people, stressing that the military action was narrowly focused on weakening the operational capabilities of militias accused of posing a threat to the Kingdom's security and attacking its civilian facilities and key economic infrastructure.

The official also rejected what he described as attempts by certain actors, both within Iraq and abroad, to exploit the strikes to fuel sectarian divisions. He said such narratives were intended to weaken Iraq's security, stability and regional partnerships and would not mislead the Iraqi public.

It is pertinent to mention here that Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense on Wednesday announced that the Kingdom's armed forces, in coordination with the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), had carried out precision strikes against Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq linked to recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

Saudi authorities have said the operation followed drone attacks intercepted by the Kingdom's air defenses earlier this week targeting oil installations in the Eastern Province and the Riyadh region, reiterating that Saudi Arabia does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression against the Kingdom.