Iraq Tries to Contain Fallout from Alleged Pipeline Attack

The Iraqi government is racing to contain fallout from an alleged attack by Iran-backed militias on a key Saudi oil pipeline. The attacks, which shut down the East-West crude oil pipeline, have sparked pressure on Iraq's government to prevent local militias from aiding other Iran proxy groups across the region.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered an investigation into the operations command of Maysan province, along the border with Iran, and dismissed the province's commander. The group of Iran-backed militias in Iraq denied involvement in the attacks but praised the Houthi rebels for their 'ongoing battlefield victories against Saudi forces.'

The pipeline, built in the 1980s, has played a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's ability to export oil following the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. The Iranian-backed Houthis have been at war with Yemen's government since 2014 and have co-ordinated with Iraqi militias to attack Saudi targets.

The Houthi rebels' virtual control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping lane through which about 12 per cent of global trade passes, could send global oil prices spiralling. The conflict has already disrupted shipping in the region and put pressure on Iraq's government to address the situation.

The Iraqi government has set a Sept. 30 deadline for non-state groups to disarm, but several powerful militias have said they will not comply. The escalation of fighting threatens to end a fragile truce that had largely halted Yemen's civil war since 2022.