Saudi Arabia closes key oil pipeline after drone attack from Iraq

Baghdad announced on Thursday that it has dismissed a senior military commander and launched formal investigations into a cross‑border attack that originated from an area adjacent to Iran. The decision was taken by the Iraqi National Security Council after the incident, which struck a strategic facility in the western province of Al‑Anbar, resulted in multiple casualties among security personnel and heightened tensions in the volatile border region.

The removed officer, identified as Major General Ali Al‑Hussein, had overseen operations in the disputed zone for the past two years. Authorities said his removal was linked to alleged lapses in intelligence and command oversight that allowed hostile elements to fire rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles into Iraqi territory. An inter‑agency probe, headed by the Ministry of Defense in coordination with the Prosecutor General’s Office, will examine the chain of command, the source of the weaponry and any external involvement, including the suspected role of Iran‑backed militia groups operating along the frontier. The investigation also aims to assess compliance with Iraq’s security protocols and to determine whether any foreign actors violated its sovereignty.

The government pledged to hold those responsible accountable and to reinforce border defenses to prevent further incursions. Officials emphasized that the inquiry will be transparent and that any findings will be presented to the parliament, underscoring Baghdad’s commitment to safeguarding national security while maintaining diplomatic channels with neighboring Iran.