Iraq

Iraqi security forces are guarding the convoys of international coalition troops pulling out of the Kurdistan region, an Iraqi security source told Al Hadath.

Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi:

Iraq will not become a "launchpad for attacks" against its neighbors. He said the country can help "de-escalate tensions and open avenues for dialogue."

Iraq's Prime Minister: "We are ready to host direct talks between the parties to the regional conflict, and we welcome any serious diplomatic effort to ease tensions."

Several drones launched from Iraq targeted Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, causing injuries and damage, Saudi Arabia says.

Contributed by @AZ_Intel_.

CNN is reporting that the Saudi East-West oil pipeline was attacked using “drones originating from Iraq”.

Meaning that this attack was likely carried out by Iranian-aligned militias in Iraq, opening a new front in the war.

It’s not yet clear how long it would take to repair the damage, sources said to CNN.

A regional meeting on securing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is set for Monday in Oman, bringing together Iran, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf coastal states. - Iranian Foreign Ministry

The U.S. Treasury has announced new sanctions targeting entities that support Iran's proxies in the Middle East, including several Iraqi business executives.

The U.S. Treasury has announced new sanctions targeting entities that support Iran's proxies in the Middle East, including several Iraqi business executives. In a separate updated statement, Treasury said its policy now presumes denial and it will reject most outstanding Iran-related licensing requests.

The Panama flagged tanker New Andros was hit by a drone near Basra, Iraq. (Reuters)

The tanker New Andrews, an American tanker, was hit by an Iranian drone near Basra, Iraq, Iraqi channels report.

Iran struck two tankers with drones in the past few hours -- one near Iraq, one off the UAE.

A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 28NM south-east of Al-Faw, Iraq, UKMTO reports. Crew are safe and no environmental impact has been reported.

A drone struck a Panama-flagged tanker in Iraqi waters. It was carrying 2 million barrels of fuel oil, two port officials say.

The Houthis helped Iraqi pro-Iranian militias plan and execute July's drone attack on Saudi oil facilities, per the AP. Regional sources call it a new level of coordination among Iran's proxies.

Iraq Oil Minister: Committed to OPEC quota, output won't exceed 4.2 million bpd.

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $800 million arms sale to Iraq, including Bell 412EPX and Bell 407M helicopters, GAU-19 machine guns, rocket systems, sensors, and training.

-Reuters.

Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have hardened their conditions for laying down their weapons, an Iraqi government source told Qatar's Al-Arabi Al-Jadid.

Among the demands: withdrawal of American and Turkish forces from Iraq, an end to U.S. political and economic sponsorship of the country, dissolution of the Kurdish forces in their northern autonomy, entry of the Iraqi army into the Kurdish region, and the acquisition of more advanced air defense systems.

Iraq's National Security Adviser says PKK forces on Iraqi soil are illegal, adding that Iran wants separatist terrorist groups expelled.

The Tehran visit by Iraq's Shia judiciary chief Faeq Zidan focused on disbanding the Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, Iraqi government sources told Lebanon's Al-Akhbar.

A senior figure in the armed militias told the paper Iran fears rapid disarmament would create a vacuum Israel could exploit, as in Syria.

Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi, on corruption in his government: "Our government will be free of corruption, God willing... because there's no money anyway."

Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaydi rules out any military confrontation with pro-Iranian militias that refuse to disarm. He says serious dialogue is underway, and most relevant parties are convinced of the need to hand over their weapons. The disagreement is over the mechanism.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Qalibaf: "America and Israel should know that the unity between the nation of Iran and Iraq can never be broken."

He said fighters from both countries stood together against ISIS and in the "Ramadan war," and thanked Iraqis for attending the funeral of "the martyred leader of the revolution."