Abadi tasked the Iraqi intelligence apparatus with improving relations in the region, Al-Monitor learned from an intelligence source who asked not to be named.
Saoud al-Rayyes, the editor-in-chief of Saudi newspaper Al-Hayat, believes “the visit of a senior Saudi politician such as Jubeir to Iraq holds great meaning. [Saudi Arabia] is reaching out to bring Iraq back to its Arab milieu, after Iran has sought to set a wall between it and its Arab brothers.”
He added, “However, there are some parties that do not wish to see Saudi Arabia entering Iraq. Those are still controlled by Iran and seek to sabotage Iraq’s relations with its Arab [neighbors], especially Saudi Arabia."
In the same vein, Qais al-Khazali, the head of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, said Jubeir visited Baghdad to address concern over the Popular Mobilization Units’ (PMU) significant role and its future.
Jubeir’s visit also has great significance in terms of Iraq’s role in Syria. There have been indications that the United States would like to give Iraq a role in the fight against IS in the Syrian territories as well.
On Feb. 24, Abadi ordered the Iraqi air force to “strike IS sites in Husaybah [in Iraq] and in Abu Kamal inside Syria,” according to a statement issued by the prime minister’s office, which noted that the operation was carried out successfully.
Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis confirmed the Iraqi airstrikes inside Syrian territories, saying the United States provided information for the effort.
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