Iraq PM invited to Riyadh after US-Saudi strikes

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has received a renewed invitation to visit Riyadh, his office said on Aug. 7, after US-Saudi strikes in Iraq last month killed 20 militants, including five Iranians.

Zaidi's media office said he met Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan, who carried a message from Saudi leaders renewing the invitation. Zaidi had been due to visit Riyadh in late July, but the trip was cancelled after the July 29 strikes.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an alliance of Tehran-backed groups, announced the same day that it had decided to postpone a response to the strikes that it said had been scheduled for Aug. 7. It cited a call from Hadi al-Ameri, the head of the Badr organisation, and the positions of other political leaders. Ameri, described as close to Iran, had urged the groups in a video message not to respond.

Riyadh has said its forces intercepted drones targeting oil facilities, and blamed Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The strikes also followed US pressure on Baghdad to disarm pro-Iran armed groups.

Zaidi's government has set a Sept. 30 deadline for those groups to hand over their weapons and says it rejects the use of Iraqi territory to attack neighbouring countries.

Iraqi authorities said on Aug. 6 that they had increased security measures along the borders and across the country. Two security sources told AFP the measures were intended to prevent a response to the US-Saudi strikes.