Iraq’s government is investigating drone attacks that struck a key Saudi oil pipeline, confirming the assaults originated from Iraqi territory and blaming local Iran-backed militias. The government moved to contain the fallout Saturday, dismissing a military commander and pledging a thorough investigation.
Saudi Arabia had shut down its major East-West pipeline on Friday as a precautionary measure following the drone attack, which it blamed on strikes originating from Iraq. The kingdom stated it would not retaliate immediately, affording the Iraqi government an opportunity to address the situation.
The pipeline, built in the 1980s, is crucial for Saudi oil exports, particularly since the Iran war disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. By early June, Saudi Arabia had more than doubled its oil exports from the Red Sea port at the pipeline’s end, reaching over 5 million barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency.
An umbrella group of Iran-backed militias in Iraq denied responsibility for the pipeline attacks Saturday, though it praised the Houthi rebels in Yemen for their advances against Saudi forces. The group stated it would cooperate with the Iraqi investigation.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the operations command in Maysan province, which borders Iran, and subsequently dismissed the province's commander. In a related development, Iraq closed two key border crossings with Iran—Shalamcheh and Chazabeh—which are major official transit points. Iranian state media reported that the closure would halt all passenger and commercial traffic until further notice.
The incidents occur amid broader regional tensions, with Iran-backed militias in Iraq having previously carried out strikes on U.S.-linked targets. These militias have been accused of coordinating with Yemen’s Houthi rebels to attack Saudi Arabia. In July, Saudi Arabia and the United States conducted airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, citing their alleged involvement in drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities that the Houthis had claimed responsibility for.
Regional officials have indicated that the Houthis assisted Iraqi militias in planning and executing these attacks. The escalating conflict in Yemen, where the Houthis seized an island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a critical shipping lane for global trade—this week, risks further destabilizing the region and potentially impacting global oil prices. The strait is vital for Saudi oil exports, especially since the Iran war disrupted the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis' control of the strait could significantly affect oil prices already inflated by the ongoing Iran-U.S. conflict.
The fragile truce in Yemen, which had largely halted the country's civil war since 2022, is now threatened. The conflict has resulted in approximately 150,000 deaths and brought millions to the brink of famine. The United Nations migration agency reported Friday that over 46,000 people have fled their homes in the past week due to the surge in fighting.
U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about global oil prices and his communications with Saudi Arabia's crown prince, expressed confidence that the situation would resolve favorably. Iraq's government had previously set a Sept. 30 deadline for nonstate groups to disarm, but several powerful militias have indicated they will not comply.