BAGHDAD — Iraqi authorities have seized a drone launch platform inside the country that was used in an attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, Iraq’s Security Media Cell chief Saad Maan said Saturday.
“An intelligence and security task force made significant efforts and managed to locate and seize the launch platform inside Iraqi territory,” Maan said in a statement carried by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).
He said investigative procedures were continuing with the involvement of forensic experts, including technical documentation, examination and analysis of the platform.
Maan said efforts were focused not only on securing the platform but also on intensive field and intelligence operations to identify those involved in the attack.
Earlier Saturday, Iraqi army spokesman Sabah Al-Numan said security and intelligence agencies were continuing operations to arrest all those involved in the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
The developments came after Saudi Arabia said Friday that its strategic East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions had been targeted by several drones launched from Iraq, causing injuries and material damage.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attacks but said the Kingdom had chosen not to respond at this stage following a request from the Iraqi prime minister to give Baghdad an opportunity to take measures to prevent attacks originating from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.
Saudi Arabia stressed that it reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities, citizens and residents.
Source: Saudi Gazette