Iraq says drone launch site discovered, investigation underway

Iraq said Tuesday that authorities had discovered a site inside the country used to launch drones and that an investigation was underway to identify those responsible.

Baghdad “does not allow any attack on countries in the region” and seeks to be “a positive point of convergence” in the Middle East, Lt. Gen. Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, told the state news agency INA.

He said Iraq respects all neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, and that Baghdad had communicated with Riyadh regarding measures taken by the Iraqi government.

An intelligence committee formed to investigate recent attacks on Saudi territory discovered the site from which the drones were launched inside Iraqi territory, Maan said.

He said intelligence and technical teams, along with forensic experts, were examining evidence, including fingerprints, to identify those responsible.

Maan said the focus is to determine who carried out the attack and prevent any party from attempting to “mix the cards” or drag Iraq into a confrontation it does not want.

The remarks come after drones launched from Iraq targeted Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions last week, causing injuries and damage and prompting a precautionary shutdown of the pipeline.

​​​​​​​Saudi Arabia said it would not retaliate “at this stage” after Baghdad pledged to investigate the attacks and prevent Iraqi territory from being used for further strikes.