Baghdad (HRNW)- Iraq has temporarily closed three key border crossings with Iran following a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline, amid growing regional security tensions.
According to the French news agency AFP, Iraqi security sources and a government official said the crossings at Shalamcheh in Basra province, Al-Shib in Maysan province and Al-Mandali in Diyala province were temporarily shut. Other border crossings between Iraq and Iran remain operational.
The development follows a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline, with both Riyadh and Baghdad saying the drones were launched from Iraqi territory. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
Following the incident, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi removed the military commander of Maysan province from his post after authorities determined that the drones had reportedly been launched from the province, which borders Iran.
A powerful alliance of pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups has denied involvement in the attack. However, Saudi Arabia has previously accused armed groups operating from Iraq of targeting its oil facilities and infrastructure.
The closure of the three crossings could affect trade, passenger movement and transportation between Iraq and Iran. Shalamcheh is an important commercial route connecting southern Iraq with Iran, while Al-Shib and Al-Mandali are also significant border points.
The incident has placed Baghdad in a difficult position as it seeks to maintain its longstanding political and economic ties with Iran while strengthening relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The reported use of Iraqi territory for an attack on Saudi infrastructure could further increase pressure on the Iraqi government to tighten security controls.
The attack has also raised concerns over the potential impact on regional energy security, particularly given the strategic importance of Saudi oil infrastructure to global energy markets.
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