Attacks on Saudi oil expose Iraqi PM’s struggle to control armed factions

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-16T02:25:44.591Z • Permanent link

Saudis and Iraqis are now locked in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with Baghdad struggling to assert control over armed factions that have taken advantage of the chaos. The attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, which have left the global energy market reeling, have exposed deep-seated vulnerabilities in Iraq's ability to manage its own security forces. General Qasem Soleimani, the late commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force, had been working closely with Baghdad's militias, providing training and resources in exchange for access to Iraq's strategic location. Despite Soleimani's death, these ties remain intact, and Baghdad is now facing a crisis of its own making.

Key players are scrambling to respond, with the US-led coalition providing air support and intelligence to the Iraqi military, while also keeping a watchful eye on Iranian-backed militias. Baghdad is desperate to demonstrate its ability to counter the threat, but so far, its efforts have been hindered by the sheer scale of the challenge. According to reports, the attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure were carried out by a coalition of groups, including the Houthis and the Islamic State, which have taken advantage of the chaos to launch a series of coordinated attacks.

Experts warn that this crisis is far from over, with the potential for further escalation on the horizon. As tensions continue to build, the global energy market is bracing itself for the worst, with prices already soaring in response to the attacks. Saudi Arabia's oil minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, has vowed to take action, but it remains to be seen whether Baghdad will be able to contain the situation.

The attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure have sent shockwaves through the global energy market, with prices surging in response to the attacks. For companies like Saudi Aramco, which has seen its profits plummet in recent weeks, the situation is dire. The company's stock price has plummeted in response to the attacks, wiping billions of dollars off its value. Research communities are also taking notice, with many experts warning that the attacks could have far-reaching consequences for the global energy industry.

The impact of the attacks will also be felt in the policy environment, with many governments around the world taking a hard look at their own energy strategies in response to the crisis. The US, for example, has already begun to review its energy policy, with many experts warning that the attacks could have a major impact on the country's energy independence. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure have exposed deep-seated vulnerabilities in the global energy market, and it will be a long time before the industry is able to recover.

The attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure are just the latest chapter in a long and complex struggle for control in the Middle East. The region has been plagued by sectarian violence and proxy wars for decades, with many countries taking sides in the conflict. The US, for example, has long been a key player in the region, with many experts warning that its withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 was a major factor in the current crisis. Meanwhile, Iran has been using its influence to back Shia militias in Iraq, further exacerbating the crisis.