Iraq says external parties used its territory to attack neighbours
Iraq says it has evidence that external parties used its territory to launch attacks on neighbouring countries, according to Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. He said Baghdad is investigating attacks launched from Iraqi soil against Gulf states and is seeking to address the issue through dialogue. The comments come amid renewed concern over cross-border security risks in the region.
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Hussein said Iraq is also trying to resolve disagreements with Saudi Arabia through talks. He said Saudi Arabia has accused Iran-aligned groups operating in Iraq of attacking its oil infrastructure, and added that Baghdad confirmed in September that drone attacks on the kingdom's East-West pipeline originated from Iraqi territory. He said Iraq is negotiating with Iran-aligned armed factions to bring their weapons under state control.
The foreign minister said the process should be pursued through dialogue rather than force. He also said Baghdad is in contact with Tehran over the issue of weapons held by Iraqi factions. Hussein said Washington had formally requested the closure of all but two border crossings with Iran, underlining the wider regional pressure surrounding Iraq's security arrangements.
The remarks matter because they place Iraq at the centre of a broader dispute involving neighbouring states, armed factions and outside powers. Iraq has long faced the challenge of balancing relations with both Iran and the United States while trying to assert state control over armed groups operating inside its borders. Any confirmation that attacks on neighbouring countries were launched from Iraqi territory could deepen diplomatic tensions and increase pressure on Baghdad.
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Hussein also said Iraq had lost about $60bn from the suspension of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, although shipments have resumed after understandings were reached with Washington and Tehran. That figure points to the economic stakes of regional instability, especially for a country whose finances are closely tied to energy exports. He also said Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkiye have formed a committee to fight the presence of ISIL in Syria, showing that security coordination remains active alongside the dispute over armed factions.
What remains unclear is which external parties Iraq says were involved, and what evidence Baghdad has gathered so far. It is also not clear how far negotiations with Iran-aligned factions have progressed or whether any changes will be made at border crossings. The full interview is due to air later, and further details may clarify how Iraq plans to manage the security and diplomatic fallout.
