BAGHDAD, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ali al-Zaidi, Iraqi prime minister and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, approved Iran's request to conduct a joint investigation into finding drone launch platforms near the Iraq-Iran border, Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, said Saturday.
The decision came as Iraqi authorities intensified security measures following confirmation that recent drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia were launched from a site within Iraq's southern province of Maysan.
Earlier on Saturday, al-Zaidi dismissed the Maysan Operations Commander and Maysan Police Commander, and ordered the formation of a special investigative council to probe the issue, according to separate statements by al-Numan.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces have also initiated administrative and security reorganization operations at several border crossings that necessitate their closure to investigate security breaches, said the Security Media Cell, affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, in a statement.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said Friday that its East-West Pipeline was attacked by several drones launched from Iraq, causing injuries and damage.
The ministry noted that at the request of the Iraqi prime minister, the kingdom had refrained from responding at this stage.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in the East-West Pipeline, which carries crude oil from its eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. ■
