Iraq has discovered a site inside the country used to launch drones, authorities said, as an investigation continues to identify those responsible for recent attacks on Saudi Arabia.
An intelligence committee investigating the attacks uncovered the site, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, told state news agency INA on Tuesday.
Maan said Baghdad “does not allow any attack on countries in the region” and seeks to be “a positive point of convergence” in the Middle East.
He added that Iraq respected all neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia, and that Baghdad had communicated with Riyadh about measures the Iraqi government had taken.
Intelligence and technical teams, along with forensic experts, were examining evidence at the site, including fingerprints, to identify those responsible, Maan said.
Iraq seeks to prevent further attacks
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.
Maan said the investigation would focus on determining who carried out the attacks and preventing any party from attempting to “mix the cards” or drag Iraq into a confrontation it does not want.
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.
The discovery comes as Iraq faces pressure to prevent its territory from being used to launch attacks against neighbouring countries.
Baghdad has pledged to investigate the incidents and take measures to prevent further attacks, while Riyadh has indicated that it will refrain from retaliation for now.
