Saudi Arabia summons Iraq's ambassador over drone ‘attacks' on kingdom, Gulf states

Saudi Arabia on Sunday summoned Iraq’s Ambassador Safia Taleb al-Suhail over “continued attacks and threats” targeting the kingdom and other Gulf states using drones launched from Iraqi territory.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the move comes “in light of the continued attacks and blatant threats” affecting Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries.

The ministry did not provide further details on the timing or extent of the reported attacks.

There was no immediate comment from Iraq on the statement.

According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Saud al-Sati said during the delivery of a protest note that Riyadh condemns “attacks originating from Iraqi territory against the kingdom and Gulf states.”

He stressed “the importance of Iraq acting responsibly in addressing these threats and attacks,” reiterating the kingdom’s “categorical rejection of violations of state sovereignty and attempts to threaten the security and stability of the region.”

SPA did not say whether the attacks targeted Saudi Arabia and Gulf states before or after a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran took effect earlier this week.

Iran-backed Iraqi factions launched attacks against what they described as “US interests in the region” in support of Tehran during the US-Israeli assault that killed more than 3,000 people since Feb. 28.

Some of those attacks hit civilian facilities and infrastructure in Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. Iraqi groups announced their commitment to the Iran-US truce that has been in place since dawn Wednesday.

The developments come after Iranian and US delegations concluded 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, early Sunday, without reaching an agreement.