Amiri-Zidi deal eases Baghdad security standoff after Saudi Arabia tensions

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Political and government sources said a compromise was reached between Prime Minister Ali Falih ez-Zeydi and Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri following an intense security alert in Baghdad that stretched from Thursday night into Friday morning. The talks addressed threats of possible military retaliation against Saudi Arabia by armed groups and government operations prepared against factions accused of carrying out cross-border attacks. According to the sources, the two sides agreed to mutually postpone planned military moves by the government and any actions against Saudi Arabia by the groups, in exchange for pursuing diplomatic channels. Security units had been preparing special operation plans and the military readiness level had been raised during the alert, the sources said. The National Security Media Cell officially announced that, on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, security forces had increased their war readiness. After the agreement, al-Amiri called on Islamic Resistance groups to delay military retaliation and rely on diplomatic means. The groups submitted a list of demands including a formal apology, compensation and a softening of Saudi Arabia's rhetoric. The developments followed a meeting of the State Administration Coalition in which a tougher stance was adopted toward non-state armed formations. No further details on the implementation of the agreement were immediately available.