• Saudi Arabia condemns a drone attack launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq that targeted the capital, Riyadh, as well as oil facilities in the Eastern Province.

Iraqi official says ‘cells belonging to Ukraine’ carried out bombings in Iraq

Iraq’s national security adviser, Qasim al-Aboudi, has told Dijlah TV that new information points to “Ukrainian interference in Iraq”, with “cells belonging to Ukraine” carrying out bombings against Iraqi government facilities.

He told the Arabic-language network that further investigation was needed “before we can level an accusation at this side or that”.

“But we arrested a small group of people, who confessed that they were working for Ukraine,” al-Aboudi said. “They targeted some Iraqi government facilities with bombing.”

He did not elaborate further.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

• Series of explosions heard in Erbil
• Explosion reported near US consulate in Erbil, according to Iraqi and Iranian media
• Northern Iraq’s largest gas field attacked: Iran state media
• 4 Iranian drones target areas near Erbil: Police sources

But the Iraqis are now saying "cells belonging to Ukraine"

So, what wants Zelenskyy try to gain with these drone attacks if they were attacks linked to Ukraine. If this is true then Zelenskyy is spilling the Russo-Ukrainian war into the Middle East.

Iraqi group denies launching drone attacks against Saudi Arabia

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has denied launching drone attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh blamed “Iranian-backed militias” for the strikes on Monday.

“This allegation only strengthens our conviction that hostility towards Iraq and its people is an inherent characteristic of this regime,” the network of Iran-aligned groups said in a statement.

“These fabrications are nothing but an attempt to justify their inability to respond to the painful Yemeni strikes that have targeted the heart of their infrastructure,” it added.

The group warned that “any foolish action by Saudi Arabia would be met with a harsh response”, calling for the removal of “the unjust siege on the Yemeni people”.

Saudi Arabia said on Monday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed drones launched from Iraq that attempted to target oil facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province and in Riyadh.

The attacks came as Yemen’s Houthi group also declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea in what it describes as a response to the ongoing siege of the territory controlled by it.

GCC, Egypt slam drone attacks on Saudi Arabia

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has condemned Monday’s drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, calling them “a dangerous escalation” and “a direct threat to the security and stability of the region”.

In a statement, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi also reaffirmed the bloc’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures the kingdom takes to protect its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs similarly called the attacks “a violation” of Saudi Arabia’s “security and stability, and an escalation that could undermine security and stability in the region”. It reiterated “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and support for its response.

As we’ve been reporting, the Saudi Ministry of Defense said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed the drones, launched from Iraq, that targeted oil facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province and the capital, Riyadh.

Saudi downs drones targeting oil facilities, says fired from Iraq

Saudi Arabia’s air defenses have intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory that attempted to target oil facilities in the kingdom’s eastern region, the defense ministry said.

Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said the “terrorist attempts” were launched once again from Iraqi soil and carried out by groups “affiliated with Iran”.

Al-Malki affirmed the kingdom’s “legitimate right to defend itself and its resources”, and said Saudi Arabia “reserves the right to respond at the time and place it deems appropriate”.

Saudi Arabia condemns drone attacks on oil facilities

The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the latest attack targeting oil facilities in the Eastern province. Saudi Arabia blames Iran-backed militias in Iraq for the attack.

“The kingdom reiterates its determination to safeguard its security and sovereignty, and affirms its legitimate right under international law to take all necessary measures to respond to the sources of the aggression and deter the perpetrators,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Saudi Arabia also calls on the Iraqi government to “take all necessary measures to prevent its territories from being used as grounds from which acts of aggression are launched”.