Iraq said it was ready to cooperate fully in verifying any information about an attack on Saudi Arabia that was launched from its territory, renewing its condemnation of the incident and vowing measures to prevent any breach of Iraqi sovereignty. <\/p>\n
The Iraqi government\u2019s latest condemnation came a day after the Foreign Ministry denounced the attacks on the Kingdom, in what observers said signaled Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi\u2019s new government was keen to protect ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. <\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia\u2019s Defense Ministry said on Sunday it had intercepted and destroyed three drones after they entered the Kingdom\u2019s airspace from Iraq. <\/p>\n
Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi renewed Baghdad\u2019s condemnation on Tuesday, saying Iraq \u201creaffirms its firm and historic position in support of distinguished and lasting relations with brotherly and friendly countries of the region, its commitment to the security of Arab states, the importance of supporting stability, all efforts to ease tensions, and preventing attacks, whatever their source.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Iraqi government condemns the recent drone attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia and affirms its continued joint efforts to strengthen regional security and safeguard the security and sovereignty of countries in the region,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Awadi repeated that the military authorities did not detect or record any activity from the country\u2019s airspace, stressing, however, that Iraqi institutions were fully ready \u201cto cooperate in verifying any information related to the circumstances of the attack that targeted the Kingdom.\u201d <\/p>\n
He stressed Iraq\u2019s \u201ccategorical rejection of the use of its territory, airspace or territorial waters to launch any attack on neighboring countries.\u201d <\/p>\n
Awadi said Iraqi security forces had taken \u201call necessary steps and measures to thwart and uncover any attempt in this context,\u201d adding that there would be \u201cno leniency toward anyone who tries to violate the sovereignty of the Iraqi state or damage relations with the Kingdom, neighboring countries or brotherly states.\u201d <\/p>\n
Observers are now raising questions over how Zaidi will deal with pro-Iran armed factions and confront their activities at home and abroad, particularly under continued US pressure. <\/p>\n
In recent months, after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, factions launched hundreds of attacks on targets inside Iraq, most of them in the northern Kurdistan region. <\/p>\n
They also carried out attacks on more than one country in Iraq\u2019s regional neighborhood. Those attacks stopped during the ceasefire, before resuming with three drones over Saudi territory. <\/p>\n
Many believe the factions\u2019 latest attacks pose a serious challenge to Zaidi\u2019s authority. The prime minister, whose government was approved by parliament last week, has received clear US, domestic and Arab backing, a development that was not welcomed by the factions, which are seeking to embarrass him at the start of his tenure in Iraq\u2019s top executive post. <\/p>\n