The UAE on Wednesday urged Iraq to prevent hostile acts and address threats “urgently”, days after a drone attack on Barakah nuclear power plant that was launched from Iraqi territory.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Iraqi government to “immediately and unconditionally prevent all hostile acts emanating from its territory and to address these threats urgently, promptly and responsibly, in accordance with relevant international and regional laws and conventions”.
It also stressed the importance of Iraq playing its role in consolidating security and stability in the region, in a way that preserves its sovereignty and enhances its position as an active and responsible partner in its regional environment.
On Tuesday, the Defence Ministry said a drone strike that caused a fire near the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant on Sunday and two other drones intercepted on the same day were launched from Iraq, where Iranian-backed armed groups have launched several attacks since the start of the Iran war.
The Iraqi government said on Wednesday it was investigating attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which also reported on Sunday that its air defences had destroyed three drones coming from Iraqi territory.
A first meeting of a national security council under new Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi “discussed the continuation of investigations into the attacks that targeted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates", a statement said. It said “a special committee was formed to contact the relevant parties in the two countries”.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, on Wednesday said the drone strike on the Barakah plant was a “dangerous escalation”.
“Whether carried our directly or through proxies, this was a terrorist attack and a dangerous escalation,” Dr Al Jaber said during an online discussion with the Atlantic Council in Washington. “It showed a clear disregard for civilian lives in the UAE and across the region."
The Foreign Ministry statement reiterated the UAE's strong condemnation of the “treacherous terrorist attacks” launched from Iraq. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike.
There was no claim of responsibility for the attack on Saudi Arabia either from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group of Iran-backed militias that have claimed similar attacks on neighbouring countries after joining the war in solidarity with Tehran.
The attacks were the latest to pierce the ceasefire in the region, which has so far failed to proceed to a fully-fledged peace agreement between the US and Iran. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would "do whatever I want him to do,” amid fears the war could resume. Mr Trump also suggested that there was growing unrest inside Iran that could increase pressure on the government.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said it had begun investigating the attacks, but that its air defences had not detected them. It called on Saudi authorities to “exchange relevant information”.
There has been no comment from Baghdad on the drone attacks targeting the UAE. However, hours before it was revealed the Barakah attack had come from Iraq, the government condemned the strike. There was no response to requests for comment by The National.
Diplomatically, Iraq risks further strain with Gulf states and isolation if it is seen as unable or unwilling to prevent its airspace and territory from being used for attacks on neighbouring states. Iraq relies on improving ties with Gulf states for investment, energy co-operation and regional integration. Failure to act could set back that agenda.
Iraq has already been under intense US pressure to disarm the Iran-aligned militia groups, with Washington placing bounties on their leaders, suspending key dollar access and interfering in the government formation process. US President Donald Trump and his administration strongly opposed Nouri Al Maliki returning as prime minister.
Instead, businessman Ali Al Zaidi was sworn into the role and vowed to ensure a state monopoly on weapons. The attacks on Gulf states are the first big challenge he faces in dealing with the Iran-aligned groups.
Tehran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for hundreds of attacks inside and outside the country since the US and Israel began their war on Iran on February 28. Drones and rocket attacks have been launched at several US-linked sites across federal Iraq and the Kurdistan region.
They have also claimed attacks on US troops in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which prompted calls from regional states for Baghdad to take steps to halt the strikes.
