Ikrame Imane Kouachi
15 October 2026•Update: 15 October 2026
Iraqi and Saudi officials discussed strengthening security coordination and tightening control over their shared border on Thursday as part of efforts to address security challenges facing the two countries.
The meeting came a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi held talks in Riyadh with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on regional developments and enhancing security coordination to address common challenges.
During the meeting, Zaidi reaffirmed Iraq’s firm position of “not allowing its territory to be used as a launching point for any attacks or acts that threaten the security of the kingdom and the countries of the region,” according to a statement from his media office.
Against the backdrop of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February, several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, have said they were targeted by attacks launched from Iraq by armed groups aligned with Tehran.
The Iraqi Border Forces Command announced that a regular meeting had been held between the Iraqi Fifth Border Region Command and the Saudi border guard commands for the Northern and Eastern regions, according to a statement carried by the official Iraqi News Agency (INA).
The meeting discussed “ways to strengthen coordination and mutual cooperation in a manner that contributes to tightening control over the border strip, consolidating security and stability, and addressing security challenges,” the statement said.
On Aug. 27, a Saudi security and military delegation met Iraqi officials in Baghdad to discuss strengthening security cooperation, controlling the border and intensifying information exchange.
In February, Iraqi Border Forces Commander Mohammed Abdul Wahab Sukkar also visited Saudi Arabia, where he met Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf to discuss enhancing border control coordination and cooperation in training.
