Will Gulf States end Iran - backed attacks from Iraq ?

What Happened

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Badawi visited Baghdad on Tuesday to engage Iraqi officials on regional security. According to reports from Shafaq News and the Iraqi News Agency, the primary objective of the visit was to secure commitments from the Iraqi government to prevent the use of its territory as a launchpad for drone and missile attacks against Gulf states. While Al-Badawi met with the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zidan, to discuss judicial and legal cooperation, official statements did not confirm any specific agreements regarding the containment of Iranian-backed militias operating within Iraq.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The mission highlights the growing regional concern regarding the use of Iraq as a forward operating base for Iranian-aligned militias. The ability of these groups to target critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait using low-cost, difficult-to-trace drone technology poses a direct threat to regional energy security and stability, complicating the Iraqi government's efforts to maintain sovereignty while managing influence from Tehran.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Iraqi government takes concrete steps to disarm or restrict the movement of militias linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces. Additionally, observe if the GCC shifts from diplomatic engagement to more coercive measures should attacks on Gulf energy sites and infrastructure persist.