'No approval, no prior knowledge': Iraq says it didn't approve US-Saudi strikes, rejects Trump's claims
Baghdad, July 31
Iraq has refuted claims that it had advance knowledge of or authorised recent joint US-Saudi strikes on its soil that resulted in the deaths of at least 20 members of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces.
According to Al Jazeera, citing Iraq's state news agency, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has deferred a scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the military action.
Addressing the developments, government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi stated that Baghdad "has not granted any approval for attacks on specific sites or groups within Iraqi territory" and emphasised that "the government had no prior knowledge of the attacks on Iraqi territory".
The official Iraqi response follows assertions by US President Donald Trump that the operations were carried out in coordination with the Iraqi leadership. Baghdad, which issued a formal condemnation of the strikes on Wednesday, has explicitly disputed the US President's statements.
Concurrently, Iraq has requested substantiating evidence from Saudi Arabia regarding claims that Iraqi-based, Iran-aligned armed factions initiated drone strikes targeting the kingdom.
The Saudi defence ministry reported that drones originating from inside Iraq targeted key infrastructure, as well as the capital, Riyadh, on Monday and Tuesday.
However, Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Iraqi Prime Minister, stated that no documentation supporting those allegations has been made available.
"No party has provided any evidence to substantiate these claims so far," al-Numan told the Iraqi News Agency, as quoted by CNN.
Highlighting Baghdad's position on regional security and national integrity, al-Numan reaffirmed that Iraq would prevent non-state actors from launching strikes from its soil while resisting foreign military incursions.
"The government will not tolerate any unilateral actions originating from within Iraq, while at the same time it will not accept any violation coming from outside its borders," al-Numan said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Iraq is stuck between Iran and the US, just like many countries in the region. Their government says "no unilateral actions" from anyone — but can they enforce it? Militias on their soil, foreign jets in their airspace. Very fragile sovereignty. Let's see if Baghdad can hold its ground.
I respect Iraq for demanding evidence from Saudi Arabia about drone attacks. If you're accusing someone of launching strikes, you must provide proof. Just like in any court of law. Otherwise it's just one-sided blame. India faces similar accusations sometimes — always wise to ask for evidence first.
As an outsider looking in, it seems like Iraq is trying to walk a tightrope. They condemned the strikes but also promised to prevent non-state actors from using their territory. That's a balanced statement. But actions speak louder than words — can they control the militias backed by Iran? That's the real test.
Another day, another violation of sovereignty in the Middle East. Sad but predictable. Iraq's PM deferring Saudi visit shows this isn't a small matter. India must strengthen its own defence and diplomacy so we never face such situations. 😔 Let's learn from Iraq's pain.
I have mixed feelings here. While I condemn any unauthorised strikes, Iraq's government has allowed Iranian-backed militias to operate freely for years. Now they suddenly care about "no unilateral actions"? Bit hypocritical. If they want sovereignty, they should control all armed groups on their soil equally.
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