Saudi, Iraqi FMs Stress Coordination To Avoid Regional Conflict

Iraq's state news agency has reportedon a call between Foreign Minsiter Fouad Hussein and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. In the call, "the two sides discussed the recent attack on an American military site in Jordan and its repercussions, in addition to studying various possible scenarios related to the security and military situation in the region."

• Hussein stressed, "the necessity of continuing communication and coordination between Baghdad and Riyadh in order to remove the threat of all-out war from the regional environment and protect the security of the two countries."
• Both Saudi Arabia and Iraq continue to await any US response to the killing of three of its service personnel in Jordan in an attack carried out by Iran-linked militias based in Iraq. There remains the prospect of regional escalation, although Iran has sought to disavow any knowledge of the attack.
• There has been speculation that Iran would withdraw senior IRGC commanders from Syria following airstrikes that have killed several high-ranking officials in recent weeks. Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen newshas said that this will not happen, though, saying that Iranian “advisers” will remain in Syria but their families will return home.
• Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea continue in spite of US airstrikes. The Houthis claim to have hit container ship KOI, a Liberian-flagged container ship operated by UK-based Oceonix Services. Comes a day after a Houthi missile came closeto hitting the USS Gravely before being shot down on 31 Jan.