Saudi FM Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq
Local Editor
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir arrived in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad Saturday on an unscheduled visit, an Iraqi official announced.
The Saudi minister is leading an official delegation for talks with Iraqi officials, the Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
The visit is the first by a Saudi foreign minister to the Iraqi capital since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Tension marred Saudi-Iraqi relations in recent months since Saudi ambassador Thamer al-Sabhan claimed there is an attempt to assassinate him in the country.
Responding to the allegations, Baghdad demanded Riyadh to change the diplomat.
Additionally, al-Jubeir himself accused the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units, a main partner of the Iraqi army in its fights against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the Takfiri ‘ISIS/ISIL' group] of allegedly being a proxy force for regional rival Iran.
His statement prompted Baghdad to accuse him of meddling in Iraqi affairs.
The Saudi minister's visit comes amid a major Iraqi offensive to liberate Daesh-held Mosul city, overrun by the Takfiri group since 2014.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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