Iraqi PM, Saudi intelligence chief discuss regional security as militias delay response

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met Saudi general intelligence chief Khalid al-Humaidan on Friday to discuss coordination over regional security developments, the prime minister's office said.

Zaidi said Iraq would not allow its ‌territory to ⁠be ⁠used to launch attacks or activities targeting any other ​country. He reiterated Baghdad's commitment to protecting its sovereignty ​and preventing regional escalation.

The meeting came amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran-aligned Iraqi ​armed groups after Riyadh ⁠last month ‌carried out strikes in Iraq ​with U.S. ​Central Command that it said ⁠targeted groups responsible for attacks on Saudi ​oil facilities, and warned this week ​of imminent attacks by Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis.


Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups had vowed to respond to the Saudi strikes, but the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella ‌term for those factions, said on Friday it had postponed a response planned for the day ⁠following an appeal by Hadi al-Amiri, one of Iraq's most powerful pro-Iranian figures, and positions taken by unnamed political leaders.

The group did not specify the nature of the planned response or identify its intended target.