Iraq’s prime minister’s office said early Saturday that a military commander who led operations in Maysan province was dismissed after investigations confirmed the latest drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia originated from Iraq, Reuters reported. Bloomberg said Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi fired the Maysan operations commander and ordered an investigation. Maysan borders Iran in southern Iraq.
Separately, two security sources told Reuters on Saturday that Iraq ordered the precautionary closure of the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after the drone attacks, and that a wide-scale pursuit operation was underway. That Reuters report did not name an on-record ministry source for the closure.
The Saturday moves update Iraq’s response after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut the East-West oil pipeline following Thursday strikes that Riyadh said came from Iraqi territory. Saudi Arabia has said it is holding off retaliation for now after a request from Al-Zaidi while reserving its rights.
Sources: Reuters (PM office: Maysan ops commander dismissed; origin Iraq/Maysan); Bloomberg (Al-Zaidi fires Maysan commander; investigation); Reuters (two security sources: Shalamcheh closed; pursuit ops); Reuters Saudi MFA follow (drones from Iraq; hold-off background).
