Al-Zaidi Stresses Preventing Any Threat from Iraqi Territory to Neighbouring Countries

Iraqi PM's Media Office

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces Ali al-Zaidi chaired an emergency meeting late on Saturday to discuss the latest security developments in the region.

According to a statement by the Media Office of the Prime Minister, PM al-Zaidi stressed the need to prevent any aggression or threat originating from Iraqi territory against neighbouring countries during the meeting. He also directed the formation of a joint security committee to address emerging challenges and instructed the development of deterrent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents or any potential violations.

The Prime Minister also directed the Iraqi security agencies to enforce the law, strengthen security and stability, and fulfill their responsibilities in safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty and upholding the principles of good neighborliness.

The statement also confirmed that “the meeting reaffirmed the readiness of the Armed Forces to thwart any attempt targeting neighbouring countries within our regional environment. It also renewed the government’s unwavering commitment to preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a launching point or passageway for attacks against brotherly or friendly countries, in fulfillment of its responsibility to safeguard national sovereignty and uphold the principles of good neighborliness and international law”.

The meeting came days after the U.S. and Saudi Arabia said they had carried out coordinated strikes on logistics sites and weapons depots belonging to Iran-backed groups in seven Iraqi provinces, saying the operation was a response to drone attacks targeting oil facilities and military bases in the region.

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said the strikes killed 20 of its members and wounded 32 others, while Baghdad condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty and denied claims that Iraqi authorities had approved or coordinated the operation. Iraqi officials have repeatedly stressed that the country will not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks against neighboring states.

According to media sources, Syria and Jordan have also separately urged Iraq to prevent Iran-backed militias from using its territory to launch cross-border attacks, reflecting growing concern among Baghdad’s neighbours that escalating U.S.-Iran tensions could spill across their borders.

The coordinated warnings, delivered directly to Iraqi officials, came as fears mounted that Tehran-aligned armed groups operating inside Iraq could open new fronts against neighbouring countries if the regional conflict intensifies.

Baghdad has repeatedly sought to distance itself from the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, insisting it rejects the use of Iraqi territory to settle regional disputes.

However, Iraq continues to face persistent challenges in exercising full authority over armed groups operating outside the government’s direct chain of command. Those groups have previously launched drone and rocket attacks against neighbouring countries, U.S. military installations and foreign interests across the region.



PUKMEDIA