Saudi Arabia’s announcement on Wednesday that it had carried out precision strikes against militia targets inside Iraq linked to attacks on the Kingdom’s oil facilities, in coordination with US Central Command (CENTCOM), has refocused attention on the drone campaign waged by Iran-backed Iraqi militias against Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states since the outbreak of the regional war in late February.
An Asharq Al-Awsat survey shows that Gulf states initially sought to address the issue through diplomatic channels with Baghdad before publicly accusing Iraq-based groups of launching attacks from Iraqi territory.
After the first week of the war, Kuwait informed the Iraqi government on March 9, through its ambassador in Baghdad, that some attacks on its territory had originated from Iraq, urging Baghdad to intervene to halt them in order to preserve the fraternal ties between the two countries.
Gulf accusations of attacks launched from Iraq
On April 24, Kuwait’s military announced that two drones launched from Iraq had struck two northern border posts, causing material damage but no casualties.
On May 17, Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed three drones that entered the Kingdom’s airspace from Iraq. Riyadh said it reserved the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing.
Later the same day, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses had intercepted two of three drones that entered the country’s airspace from its western border. The third struck an electricity generator outside the inner security perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, without causing any damage inside the facility. Abu Dhabi called on the Iraqi government to immediately and unconditionally prevent all hostile acts originating from Iraqi territory.
On July 23, Kuwait’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Col. Saud Al-Otaibi, said hostile drones had attacked the Abdali border crossing with Iraq, causing material damage but no casualties.
Two attacks on Saudi Arabia within 24 hours
On Monday, Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the Kingdom’s air defenses had intercepted and destroyed several drones that attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province and the Riyadh region. He added that the “terrorist attacks originated from Iraqi territory and were carried out by Iran-backed terrorist militias.”
On Tuesday, Al-Maliki announced that additional drones targeting oil facilities in the Eastern Province had again been intercepted and destroyed. He reiterated that they had been launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed terrorist militias and stressed Saudi Arabia’s inherent right to defend itself and its critical infrastructure, while reserving the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.
Jordan and coordinated Arab positions
In Jordan, Royal Jordanian Air Force fighter jets intercepted two drones targeting the country’s territory. Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran-aligned Iraqi militias were likely behind the launches. Earlier during the 40-day war, Amman had carried out airstrikes inside Iraq against military movements it said threatened Jordan’s national security.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan repeatedly called on Baghdad to take immediate action to stop armed factions, militias, and other groups from using Iraqi territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries. In a joint statement issued on March 25, during the early weeks of the war, the six countries said such action was necessary to preserve fraternal relations and prevent further escalation.
GCC condemnations and diplomatic protests
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued more than seven statements condemning attacks against Gulf states, including strikes targeting Gulf consulates in Iraq, while reaffirming the bloc’s unity and solidarity.
Separately, Iraqi armed factions claimed responsibility in official statements for attacks on sites inside Gulf countries, explicitly describing them as part of the ongoing war.
Diplomatically, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE summoned Iraq’s ambassadors to protest attacks launched from Iraqi territory. Kuwait repeatedly summoned the Iraqi ambassador during the conflict, while Gulf governments said they had presented documentary evidence and aerial imagery confirming that the attacks had originated inside Iraq.
Saudi strikes followed Iraqi pledge
The developments culminated in the joint Saudi-US airstrikes early Wednesday, which Riyadh said were carried out in exercise of the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The operation came just days after Iraq, during talks in Riyadh, reaffirmed its commitment not to allow its territory or airspace to be used as a launch pad for attacks against Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, or other countries in the region.
