Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Russ Scalf)
Saudi Arabia and Jordan warned Iraq’s government that any new attack launched from Iraqi territory against either country would be met with direct strikes on Iran-backed armed factions inside Iraq, MBN reported on August 1, citing a senior Iraqi official.
Kuwait conveyed the warning through indirect channels, the official said, signaling growing Gulf concern over the use of Iraqi territory as a launching point for cross-border attacks.
The messages followed a recent wave of regional escalation that has increased pressure on Baghdad to rein in armed groups.
Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq have attacked U.S. forces and allies in the region since the outbreak of regional conflict in late February.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia blamed the factions for two separate attacks that targeted oil facilities on its territory, and launched retaliatory strikes in cooperation with the U.S., killing over 20 people, including five advisers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Baghdad is now trying to convince neighboring countries it can prevent further attacks while also discouraging new military strikes on its soil, the official told MBN.
Baghdad has told the countries involved that it is working to “de-escalate the situation, bring weapons under state control, and reassure countries concerned about the presence of armed factions,” the official said.
The government also warned that additional strikes inside Iraq could undermine its efforts to deter armed groups and contain the escalation.
Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Ali Faleh al-Zaidi told Saudi officials that his government was prepared to address any threat originating from Iraqi territory. He also asked Riyadh to share any intelligence on potential attacks so Baghdad could take preventive action.
A separate report from Al-Arabiya that came out on the same day revealed that Syria also delivered a warning to Iraq, claiming that Iran-backed factions were moving along the border.
Syria warned that any attack launched from Iraqi territory would be met with a response, an Iraqi political source told the news channel, adding that Damascus also demanded that measures be taken to prevent the use of Iraqi territory for any operations targeting Syria.
While Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria are certainly serious about their warning, this will likely not deter Iran-backed armed forces in Iraq. Baghdad is also in no position to stop such an attack, especially after the recent deadly American-Saudi strikes on the country.
Recent U.S. media reports have also suggested a possible large-scale strike by the United States and Israel on civilian infrastructure in Iran. If that happens, Tehran is unlikely to spare Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Syria should they move against its allies.
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sounds like israel is moving to the next phase of full regional conflict.