Zaidi threatens to resign as Coordination Framework divided over response to Saudi strikes

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi reportedly threatened to resign during a recent meeting of the Coordination Framework amid deep divisions over how Iraq should respond to recent Saudi military strikes, according to a report published Sunday by Baghdad-based newspaper Al-Mada. Citing political sources, the newspaper said the prime minister’s remarks came during a tense meeting that exposed growing disagreements among senior Shiite leaders over security policy, the role of armed factions, and Baghdad’s handling of escalating regional tensions. According to the report, the meeting became increasingly heated after intelligence was presented alleging that the armed group Saraya Awliya al-Dam was preparing to launch an attack against Jordan from Iraqi territory. The sources said Amman had warned Baghdad it would respond to any attack originating from Iraq, further intensifying the debate. The report claims the dispute centered on whether Iraq should adhere to the government’s official position or allow individual armed factions to respond independently to the recent Saudi strikes. While most Coordination Framework leaders reportedly backed the government’s approach, one influential figure with ties to Saraya Awliya al-Dam insisted on carrying out a unilateral response. Al-Mada reported that armed factions have given the government until next Friday to respond to Saudi Arabia. According to the sources, they warned that if Baghdad fails to act, they may launch their own response. The newspaper also reported that the escalating dispute prompted al-Zaidi to again raise the possibility of resigning, marking what would be the second time he has reportedly made such a threat since taking office. According to the report, he previously suggested stepping down if his anti-corruption agenda failed. The sources further claimed that the prime minister is facing mounting political pressure, including concerns about his personal security, although no official statements have confirmed those assertions. The report also focused on the investigation into drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, stating that seven Iraqi-Saudi security meetings, with U.S. participation in some sessions, have been held over the past two months. According to Al-Mada’s sources, the investigations have not produced conclusive evidence proving that the attacks originated from Iraqi territory, despite Saudi accusations. The report said several scenarios remain under discussion, including the possibility that Iraqi armed factions were responsible, that Houthi operatives present in Iraq facilitated the attacks, or alternative theories promoted by some factions alleging Israeli activity in Iraq’s southern desert regions. According to the newspaper, the ongoing crisis led al-Zaidi to cancel a planned visit to Saudi Arabia, which Iraqi officials reportedly viewed as an opportunity to attract much-needed Saudi investment at a time when Iraq faces mounting financial pressures. The report also said armed factions have urged the prime minister to suspend efforts to bring all weapons under state control, arguing that the recent Saudi strikes have fundamentally altered the security landscape. Al-Mada also reported that discussions during the meeting touched on the role of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Chairman Faleh al-Fayyadh during the recent U.S.-Saudi strikes that targeted PMF facilities. According to the newspaper’s sources, claims circulated that al-Zaidi had warned al-Fayyadh upon returning from Turkey that PMF sites could be targeted, and that evacuation efforts were delayed. However, other participants reportedly dismissed those claims, suggesting they reflected internal political disputes rather than established facts. The Iraqi government has previously denied having prior knowledge of the U.S.-Saudi strikes. Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi said Baghdad neither approved nor was informed in advance of the attacks. However, U.S. President Donald Trump later told Fox News that the strikes had been coordinated with the Iraqi government, presenting an account that differs from Baghdad’s official position.