World
Iraq Accuses External Actors of Using Its Territory to Strike Neighbours
Iraq’s foreign minister said the country has evidence that external actors are using Iraqi land to launch attacks on neighbouring states. Fuad Hussein told Al Jazeera that Baghdad is investigating incidents where attacks were launched from Iraqi territory against Gulf states and is seeking to resolve disputes with Saudi Arabia through dialogue. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran‑aligned groups operating in Iraq of striking its oil infrastructure. In September, Baghdad confirmed that drone attacks on the kingdom’s East‑West pipeline originated from Iraqi territory. Hussein said Iraq is negotiating with Iran‑aligned armed factions to bring their weapons under state control and that this process must be pursued through dialogue rather than force. He added that Iraq is in contact with Tehran about weapons held by Iraqi factions. The Iraqi government had initially set a deadline of 30 September for armed factions to hand over their weapons, coinciding with the end of the US‑led international coalition’s mandate to fight ISIL. The deadline was later extended to June 2027 after resistance to the policy, despite long‑standing pressure from the United States to fulfil its disarmament pledge. Hussein confirmed that the US had formally requested the closure of all but two border crossings with Iran. He said Iraq welcomes friendship and an alliance with Tehran but rejects interference in its internal affairs. The foreign minister also said that Iraq lost about $60 billion from the suspension of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, but shipments have resumed after understandings were reached with Washington and Tehran. Regarding the fight against ISIL after the coalition pullout, Hussein said that Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkey have formed a committee to combat the group’s presence in Syria. The full interview with the Iraqi FM is available on Al Jazeera at 21:00 Doha time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday.