Zaidi cancels Riyadh trip after US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq

The move comes after Riyadh joined Washington in targeting Iraqi militias, dealing a setback to Baghdad's efforts to strengthen ties with Gulf Arab states.

Amberin Zaman

Jul 29, 2026

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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has canceled an official trip to Saudi Arabia that was scheduled for Thursday, following an unprecedented escalation that saw Saudi Arabia join the United States in coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militias across several Iraqi provinces, including Baghdad. 

The Saudi Ministry of Defense said the strikes were in response to repeated drone assaults on Saudi Arabia's eastern........

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