Iraq dismisses Maysan police chief, closes border crossings after Saudi pipeline attacks

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi dismissed the police chief of Maysan province and ordered investigations into senior security officials on Saturday, as Baghdad widened its response after establishing that drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia originated from the southern province.

Military spokesperson Sabah Al-Numan said Al-Zaidi, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, ordered the dismissal of the Maysan provincial police chief.

The directors of the province’s security agencies were also ordered transferred from their posts and referred for investigation.

Al-Numan said the measures were taken “in light of the recent security breaches that occurred in the province,” without providing further details.

The directives came hours after Al-Zaidi ordered the formation of an investigative council into the Maysan Operations Command and dismissed its commander.

Al-Numan said the earlier action followed confirmation that attacks targeting Saudi Arabia had been launched from a location inside Maysan province.

Iraqi authorities have not yet announced the findings of their investigations or identified those responsible for the attacks or their affiliation.

In a separate move Saturday, Iraqi authorities closed several border crossings as part of administrative and security measures and launched investigations into unspecified “breaches and violations.”

“The relevant security authorities have begun administrative and security arrangements at several border crossings, requiring their closure,” Iraq’s Security Media Cell said.

Authorities have also taken legal measures and intensified intelligence gathering, investigations and inspections to determine the circumstances surrounding the breaches and prevent similar incidents, the statement said.

The Security Media Cell said that the Zurbatiyah and Al-Mundhiriyah crossings on Iraq’s border with Iran remained open to passenger traffic.

The measures represent a widening Iraqi security response to the attacks after Baghdad condemned the targeting of Saudi Arabia and pledged that Iraqi territory and airspace would not be used to launch attacks against other countries.

Saudi Arabia said Friday that its strategic East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions had been targeted by multiple drones launched from Iraq, causing injuries and material damage.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks but said the Kingdom had chosen not to respond at this stage following a request from the Iraqi prime minister to give Baghdad an opportunity to take measures preventing attacks from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.

Riyadh stressed that it retains the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities, citizens and residents.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy said the attacks, which occurred Thursday morning, prompted a precautionary shutdown of the East-West Pipeline while emergency and specialized technical teams secured the pipeline and assessed its safety.