RIYADH, JUL 31: Saudi Arabia remains committed to its relationship with Iraq and its people, and a recent Saudi airstrike was not directed at the Iraqi government or the Iraqi population, a senior Saudi official told Al Arabiya English on Friday.
The official said the operation targeted the capabilities of what the Kingdom described as a terrorist militia that had threatened Saudi national security and attacked civilian infrastructure, economic facilities and vital oil installations.
The strike was carried out as a precise and limited response to attacks targeting Saudi territory and critical infrastructure, the official said, adding that the operation was confined to military warehouses belonging to the militias.
According to the official, Saudi Arabia launched the strike only after exhausting all diplomatic and political measures and exercising the highest degree of restraint over recent months.
The official accused the militias of seeking to damage Iraq’s interests and undermine its relations with Arab and Islamic countries.
The groups were also accused of attempting to turn Iraqi territory and resources into a platform for aggression and escalation against neighboring states.
The official rejected claims being promoted by some parties inside and outside Iraq seeking to frame the situation in sectarian terms.
Such attempts would not deceive the Iraqi public, the official said, adding that those promoting sectarian narratives were opposed to regional rapprochement that could strengthen Iraq’s security and stability.
