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Al Monitor (16 September 2019)

Ali Mamouri

Attacks that occurred Sept. 14 against Aramco oil processing facilities in Saudi Arabia, resulting in huge fires and halting near half of the supply from the largest oil exporter in the world, could have a major effect on Iraq.

Soon after the attacks, Yemen’s Houthi rebels took responsibility, saying they used 10 drones in the strikes. However, Middle East Eye quoted an unnamed Iraqi intelligence official as saying the strikes were launched by Iranian drones using Iraqi territory. Middle East Eye added that the attack was in revenge, occurring out of the belief that Riyadh funded Israeli drone attacks that have taken place in recent months on Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi issued a statement Sept. 15 denying “what has been circulated by some media outlets and social media about the use of its territories to attack Saudi oil facilities with drones.”

The statement said Iraq “affirms its constitutional commitment to preventing the use of its territories for aggression on its neighbors, brothers, friends and that the Iraqi government will deal firmly against anyone who tries to violate the Constitution.”

Abdul Mahdi’s office said Sept. 16 that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a phone call with Abdul Mahdi, confirmed Baghdad’s denial. “The US secretary of state said the information they have confirms the Iraqi government’s statement that its territory was not used to carry out this attack,” the office said.

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