Baghdad, Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi decided on Wednesday to suspend his planned official visit to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, following joint airstrikes by US and Saudi forces targeting Popular Mobilization Forces positions inside Iraqi territory.
Government decision to halt official arrangements
A high-ranking government source stated that the decision was a direct and immediate response to the rapidly evolving security situation in the country this morning. The decision included the immediate suspension of all arrangements for the government delegation, as well as the postponement of bilateral talks scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, with the Saudi side, pending clarification of the situation and an assessment of the field and political repercussions.
Context of security tensions and mutual accusations
This escalation coincides with the Saudi Ministry of Defense’s announcement Tuesday evening that it had intercepted and destroyed drones targeting vital oil facilities within the Kingdom, asserting that the drones were launched from Iraqi territory. This announcement has sparked serious security concerns and heightened diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Heavy toll from field airstrikes
On the ground, joint US-Saudi warplanes launched a series of intense airstrikes early Wednesday morning targeting several sites and headquarters belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) inside Iraqi territory. These strikes resulted in significant human and material losses; the preliminary toll, which is expected to rise, is 20 dead and 32 wounded among PMF members. This prompted the Iraqi government to take escalatory measures, including canceling official visits and temporarily suspending diplomatic channels of communication pending further developments.
