Government Clarifies Closure of Al-Shaib Crossing and Denies Presence of Houthis in Iraq

Government spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi confirmed that the closure of the Al-Shaib border crossing was due to its lack of technical, developmental, and operational readiness, denying the existence of any Houthis' headquarters within Iraq. Al-Aboudi explained that several other border crossings maintain active commercial exchange with Iran, noting that the closure of Al-Shaib is linked to readiness and development requirements. He emphasized that Iraq will not allow its territory to be used to threaten neighboring countries, affirming the government's refusal to host any armed group involved in conflicts. Regarding regional security issues, Al-Aboudi mentioned high-level coordination with Turkey to resolve the Kurdistan Workers' Party file and remove its elements from Iraqi lands, as well as coordination and a supreme committee with Iran to address the issue of Iranian Kurdish militants present in Iraq.