Drone attacks have emerged as a key issue on the security agenda between Iraq and Saudi Arabia as a delegation of senior Iraqi security and intelligence officials arrived in Riyadh on Thursday. The delegation is expected to discuss security coordination, intelligence sharing and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries with Saudi officials.
The delegation is headed by First Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir al-Shammari, director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces. Its members include Lieutenant General Falah Shaghati, deputy head of the Intelligence Service; Hamid al-Shatri, head of the National Intelligence Service; Lieutenant General Muhand al-Asadi, commander of the Air Defense Command; and Lieutenant General Zaid Hushi, head of the Counter-Terrorism Service.
Security agenda in Riyadh
The Iraqi News Agency reported that the drone attacks dossier is the main focus of the talks. The sides are also expected to consider strengthening security coordination, increasing intelligence sharing and developing joint cooperation.
Visit follows statements on drone attacks
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said on July 27 that it had intercepted and destroyed several drones that it said had been launched from Iraqi territory and had attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh. Riyadh claimed that the attacks had been carried out by Iran-aligned militias and said it reserved the right to retaliate.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi ordered the country's security institutions on the same day to investigate the information provided by Saudi Arabia. The Baghdad administration said it would not allow Iraqi territory to be used as a transit route or launch point for attacks against other countries. It also announced that legal action would be taken against anyone proven responsible.
Saudi Arabia announced on July 29 that it had carried out attacks on specific targets inside Iraq. Riyadh argued that the operation had been conducted in coordination with U.S. Central Command, that the targets were linked to attacks on oil facilities and that the operation was carried out in self-defense.
An invitation for Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaydi to visit Saudi Arabia had been conveyed the previous Friday through Saudi General Intelligence Directorate chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaydan.
