Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi cancelled his planned official visit to Riyadh in response to joint US-Saudi airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The cancellation was confirmed by two regional officials and a Western diplomat, but no official statement has yet been issued by Iraq or Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence stated that the strikes were in retaliation for repeated drone attacks in recent days on the kingdom's eastern oil facilities by Iraq-based militias. It noted that these militias have been targeting Saudi Arabia since the Iran crisis that began on February 28.
Hashd al-Shaabi reports heavy casualties
Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi forces announced that at least 20 members were killed and 32 others wounded in the strikes. Warning that the death toll could rise, the group described the US-Saudi operation as “an extremely dangerous escalation” and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.
According to Reuters, the decision to cancel the visit was taken after an unscheduled meeting of Iraq's National Security Council following the US-Saudi strikes, with the “rapidly changing” security situation being a factor.
Blow to Zaidi's regional balancing policy
The cancellation of the visit dealt a blow to Prime Minister Zaidi's efforts to steer Iraq away from Tehran's influence and toward closer ties with the US and Gulf countries. Since taking office in May, Zaidi's first foreign trip was to the US, where he was warmly received by President Donald Trump. Riyadh was to be his fourth stop, following visits to Iran last week and Turkey on Tuesday.
Zaidi had previously pledged to bring the Hashd al-Shaabi under government control, after Trump administration officials said it operates outside the government's command and often in coordination with Iran. The drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure just days before the planned visit underscored the limits of Zaidi's power and the challenges of his country becoming a new battleground in the US-Iran conflict.
Controversial remarks from Trump
In an interview with Fox News, US President Trump claimed that the US and Saudi strikes on the militias were coordinated with the Iraqi government. Trump described these groups and Iran as “the cancer of the world”. The statement is seen as a development that could put Zaidi at odds with the Hashd al-Shaabi and Tehran.
Other developments in the region
Meanwhile, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to travel to Washington on Thursday to meet US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. While diplomatic sources confirmed the visit, the Pentagon has not confirmed any meeting.
The Houthis in Yemen also announced they had attacked the kingdom's energy facilities as part of their ongoing hostilities against Saudi Arabia.
