Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi held discussions with Saudi Arabian Intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan in Baghdad on Friday as both nations sought to normalize diplomatic relations. The meeting occurred weeks after a joint Saudi-US military operation on July 29 resulted in the deaths of 20 fighters from Iraqi armed groups, including five Iranian nationals. The intelligence chief extended a fresh invitation for al-Zaidi to visit Riyadh, following the cancellation of a previous planned trip that was called off in protest of the cross-border strikes.
During their discussions, both officials addressed mechanisms for improved security coordination between Baghdad and Riyadh amid ongoing regional tensions. Al-Zaidi reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to preventing its territory from being used as a staging ground for attacks against other nations and emphasized Baghdad’s determination to maintain national sovereignty. Saudi officials had characterized the earlier strikes as a proportional response to drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, which they attributed to the same pro-Iranian Iraqi armed groups. Iraqi authorities rejected this justification, with the National Security Council describing the operation as a violation of national sovereignty.
Following the strikes, Iraqi authorities implemented heightened security measures throughout the country and along its borders. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of Iran-aligned armed groups, had previously signaled intentions to respond to the US-Saudi operation but announced on Friday that it was delaying any retaliatory action. The postponement was attributed to diplomatic efforts by Hadi al-Amiri, a prominent pro-Iran political figure in Iraq, alongside pressure from other unnamed political actors.
Al-Zaidi, who assumed office earlier this year with backing from Washington, has undertaken efforts to consolidate state control over armed groups and issued a September 30 deadline for their disarmament. These initiatives have encountered resistance from influential factions within the country. Iraq has historically navigated a complex balance between maintaining relations with both the United States and Iran, with the broader US-Iran rivalry frequently positioning the nation as a contested arena for proxy activities.
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