Saudi, Iraqi officials meet in Baghdad, discuss border security, intelligence sharing

A high-level Saudi security delegation met with Iraqi officials in Baghdad on Thursday to discuss tighter controls along their shared border and intelligence sharing between the two countries.

The delegation met at the office of Iraq’s military commander-in-chief, according to a statement released by the Security Media Cell and carried by the Iraqi News Agency.

The meeting was attended by Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Gen. Abdul Amir al-Shammari, the head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, and senior security officials, the statement said.

Talks focused on “strengthening border controls and increasing intelligence sharing” with a view to enhancing security cooperation between the two countries, it added.

Both sides expressed their commitment to improving security coordination in ways that support the safety and stability of both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, according to the statement.

The meeting followed earlier consultations in the Saudi capital within the context of broader security coordination between Baghdad and Riyadh.

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On Aug. 13, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met in Riyadh with a high-level Iraqi security delegation — led by al-Shammari — to discuss bilateral defense ties and ways to enhance coordination.

The latest talks come amid heightened security tensions between the two countries after Riyadh said in late July that it had intercepted a number of drones launched from Iraqi territory that had targeted oil facilities in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

Saudi Arabia later accused “Iranian-affiliated militias” of being behind the attacks.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi subsequently ordered Iraqi security agencies to investigate Saudi intelligence regarding alleged launch sites.

Baghdad later said it would not allow its territory to be used to carry out attacks against other countries, pledging to take legal action against those found responsible.

On July 29, Saudi Arabia said it had carried out strikes against targets inside Iraq in coordination with US Central Command (CENTCOM), describing the operation as a response to attacks on its oil facilities and an invocation of its “right to self-defense.”

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