Iraq probes drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, shuts three crossings to Iran

PM Ali al-Zaidi dismisses commander, orders investigation into operations command in Maysan province, bordering Iran.Iraq has closed some border crossings with Iran while investigating drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline that it confirms were launched from its territory.The Iraqi government temporarily closed three of its crossings into Iran after drone launch sites were discovered in the country, an Iraqi security source told Al Jazeera on Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump: Iran probably ‘behind’ Saudi oil pipeline attacklist 2 of 3Iran-backed Houthis seize strategic Mayun Island: Can they hold it?list 3 of 3Will the Houthi attacks activate the Mecca Pact?end of listReporting from Baghdad, Al Jazeera’s Jack Hewson listed the closed crossings as: Shalamcheh in Basra province, al-Shib in Maysan province, and Mandali in the province of Diyala. He said that Iraq had primarily ordered the closure of the crossings over fears that the perpetrators of attacks could flee to Iran.Hewson also said the al-Tayyib border area of the southeastern province of Maysan had been shut after drone launchers were discovered there, and a search operation was under way.Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meanwhile approved a request by Iran to conduct a joint investigation into the discovery of drone launch platforms near the border, according to a statement on Saturday by Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces.The statement did not provide further details regarding where the drones were found or how many there were.However, earlier, the prime minister’s office said the attack was launched from Maysan province, and al-Zaidi dismissed the military commander there.No group claimed responsibilityThe attack on the East-West oil pipeline took place on Thursday, with Saudi Arabia announcing it was temporarily suspending the route as a “precautionary measure” the following day.