ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Major Gulf countries on Wednesday issued a joint statement calling on Baghdad to “immediately” halt attacks by pro‑Iran armed groups launched from Iraq, while reaffirming their “inherent right to self‑defense.” 

Pro-Iran groups operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have repeatedly attacked US interests in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, with several strikes on neighboring Gulf states and Jordan also being believed to have originated from Iraqi territory.

"While the signatory states value their fraternal relations with the Republic of Iraq, they call upon the Iraqi government to take the necessary measures to immediately halt the attacks launched by factions, militias, and armed groups from Iraqi territory against neighboring countries," read a joint statement from Kuwait’s foreign ministry. 

The United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemned attacks launched by “armed factions loyal to Iran from the Republic of Iraq against a number of countries in the region and their facilities and infrastructure.”

They further reaffirm their ”full and inherent right to self-defense against these criminal attacks,” the statement added.

The UAE earlier on Wednesday condemned Iranian missile strikes in the Kurdistan Region that killed six Peshmerga fighters, calling them a "dangerous escalation" and "a violation of the principles of international law."

Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups operating under the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have been one of the most salient targets of US-Israeli attacks throughout their war with Iran. PMF positions have been repeatedly struck, with casualties piling up in the pro-Iran groups' ranks as a result.

Earlier on Wednesday, the United States blamed Iraq for not disclosing the locations of Iraqi security forces that are not involved in attacking US interests prior to attacks on PMF bases. 

Many Iran-backed factions operating within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have been officially incorporated into the Iraqi state security apparatus as part of the PMF, making Iraq a target for US-Israeli strikes.

Amid its retaliatory strikes targeting 12 regional countries, Iran has expanded its attacks from US diplomatic missions and airports housing an American military presence to hotels, neighborhoods, and other civilian infrastructure, claiming US personnel and intelligence are using them as hiding spots.