BAGHDAD (Dispatches) -- Iraq has established a new military operations command along its southern border with Saudi Arabia, a move that comes as Riyadh—backed by Washington—continues its aggressive posture toward Iraqi sovereignty through airstrikes and territorial violations.
The creation of the Badia Operations Command follows the withdrawal of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) units from parts of the Al-Muthanna and Najaf desert regions, with regular military forces now assuming responsibility for security across the area. 
The command comprises three brigades under Major General Emad al-Maliki and will oversee surveillance of the desert, secure routes leading to the Saudi border, and use armed aircraft and reconnaissance flights to monitor unusual movements.
The formation of the new command comes amid heightened tensions following Saudi Arabia’s aggressive airstrikes against Iraqi territory in late July. Riyadh carried out attacks targeting Iraqi soil, claiming they were linked to oil facilities. The PMF reported that at least 20 of its members were martyred and 32 wounded in the strikes.
Baghdad condemned the attacks as a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty, reiterating that Iraqi territory should not be used to threaten neighboring countries while also holding Riyadh accountable for its aggressive actions.
The airstrikes represent yet another chapter in the U.S.-Saudi campaign of interference in the region, with Washington providing political and military cover for Riyadh’s violations of Iraqi sovereignty. The strikes exposed the continued threat posed by foreign-backed aggression to Iraq’s stability and territorial integrity.
The Badia Operations Command represents Baghdad’s determination to strengthen state control over sensitive border areas that have been repeatedly targeted by Saudi and U.S.-backed forces. 
The vast Iraqi desert extending toward the Saudi border has long been vulnerable to foreign interference, making continuous surveillance and aerial reconnaissance essential to prevent cross-border aggression.
The move also comes as Baghdad seeks to prevent Iraqi territory from being used as a staging ground for regional confrontation—a position that has been consistently undermined by Saudi and U.S. actions in the region. 
The Iraqi government has faced mounting pressure to demonstrate that it can control its territory, but this pressure comes from powers that themselves violate Iraqi sovereignty with impunity.
The new arrangements carry a clear economic dimension, as the area falls along routes connected to the Al-Jamima border crossing project. Iraq has allocated approximately $152 million for the crossing and related infrastructure, which would become the country’s second major land link with Saudi Arabia after the Arar crossing.
However, the viability of economic cooperation depends on whether Riyadh respects Iraqi sovereignty and refrains from further aggression.