Key facts
- Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi announced "deterrent measures" to prevent attacks originating from Iraq against neighboring countries.
- The announcement was made after an emergency meeting with security forces.
- The measures follow drone attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure by the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).
- US and Saudi forces conducted retaliatory strikes against the PMF, reportedly killing over 20 fighters.
- Iraq has also been a site for attacks on Iranian Kurdish groups, attributed to Iran.
- The Iraqi government affirmed its commitment to national sovereignty and international law by preventing its territory from being used for attacks.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi announced on Saturday that Iraq would implement "deterrent measures" to prevent its territory from being used as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring countries. This declaration came after an emergency meeting with domestic security forces.
The move follows a week of heightened regional tensions, including drone attacks by the Iraq-based Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) paramilitary on Saudi energy infrastructure. The PMF, which is largely composed of pro-Iranian Shia factions, stated that over 20 of its fighters were killed in subsequent US and Saudi retaliatory strikes.