Riyadh and Baghdad took a step toward repairing diplomatic ties as Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Baghdad. The meeting comes after al-Zaidi canceled an earlier visit to Saudi Arabia in response to deadly strikes by the US and Saudi Arabia on July 29.
Attack details and fallout
The joint US-Saudi strikes killed 20 fighters from Iraqi armed groups, including five Iranians. Al-Zaidi had protested the attack, which he viewed as an infringement on Iraq’s sovereignty. His government called it a violation of national principles and security.
Saudi Arabia claimed the strikes were a response to drone attacks on its oil infrastructure, which it blamed on pro-Iranian Iraqi groups. Baghdad refuted the claim, asserting no prior knowledge of the operation and calling it a breach of Iraqi sovereignty.
Diplomatic overture and security coordination
Al-Humaidan renewed an invitation for al-Zaidi to visit Riyadh, per the prime minister’s office. Security cooperation became the focus of the talks, with al-Zaidi emphasizing Iraq’s resolve to control its territory and not let it be used as a base for attacks.
Al-Zaidi has vowed to integrate armed groups under state control by September 30, a move that has drawn resistance from pro-Iranian factions. His government also pledged to guard national sovereignty, a message directed at both Washington and Tehran.
Retaliation delay and internal lobbying
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq – an Iran-aligned group that has clashed with Saudi Arabia – had threatened to retaliate for the July strikes. On Friday, it announced a postponement of any retaliatory action, citing pressure from Hadi al-Amiri, a powerful pro-Iran figure in Iraq, and other unnamed political players.
The Islamic Resistance did not disclose what it had been preparing to strike, but its delay suggests a pause in escalation between Baghdad and Riyadh. The group's decision came amid tightened security across Iraq and along its borders.