21/10/2026
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21/10/2026
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BAGHDAD, Oct 21: Iraq on Wednesday denied reports that Yemen’s Houthi movement maintains bases or headquarters on Iraqi territory, stressing that it would not allow its land to be used as a launching point for attacks against neighbouring countries.
Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi said there were no Houthi bases or headquarters in Iraq and rejected reports circulating on social media about the alleged presence of such facilities, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) and Iraqi media outlet Ultra Iraq.
Al-Aboudi stressed that Baghdad would not host any armed group involved in a particular conflict or permit Iraqi territory to be used to threaten neighbouring countries.
He said the presence of armed groups from other countries on Iraqi territory would violate constitutional principles.
The government spokesman also dismissed calls or speculation about taking action against the alleged Houthi facilities, saying there was no reason to act against installations that did not exist.
“Iraq will not serve as a launching point for attacks against neighbouring countries, nor will it host any armed group participating in a particular conflict,” he said.
The denial comes amid reports and speculation on social media about the alleged presence of Houthi facilities in Iraq. Baghdad reiterated that its territory must not be used to support armed groups engaged in regional conflicts or to threaten the security of neighbouring states.
Iraq closes border crossing with Iran
Separately, Iraqi authorities closed the Al-Sheib border crossing with Iran early Wednesday, suspending passenger and cargo traffic until further notice.
Al-Aboudi said the crossing was closed because of inadequate technical, technological and infrastructure capabilities. He said the measure was intended to improve its technical and logistical readiness.
He added that trade between Iraq and Iran continued smoothly through several other border crossings, indicating that the closure of Al-Sheib had not halted bilateral commercial activity.
However, a source within Iraq’s Coordination Framework, cited by Ultra Iraq, said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had ordered the closure to review security arrangements at the crossing.
The source also claimed that the measure was intended to curb dollar smuggling and was unrelated to US sanctions against Iran.
The reported security and anti-smuggling considerations were separate from the official explanation provided by the government spokesman, who cited technical and infrastructure deficiencies.
Iran confirms closure, directs travellers to alternative crossing
On the Iranian side, Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor of Khuzestan province for security affairs, confirmed that the Chazabeh crossing — known as Al-Sheib on the Iraqi side — had been closed to passenger and commercial traffic until further notice, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
Hayati advised travellers and businesses to use the Shalamcheh border crossing instead while Iranian authorities coordinate with Iraq to reopen Chazabeh.
The closure temporarily disrupts passenger movements and commercial traffic through the crossing, although alternative routes remain available for trade and travel between the two countries.
No reopening date was announced. Authorities on both sides are expected to coordinate on the steps required to restore operations at the crossing.
