Saudi Arabia's defence minister called Iraq a "cherished neighbour" in talks with a senior Iraqi army official on Thursday, despite last month's deadly US-Saudi strikes on targets in the country.

The Riyadh visit was the first announced by an Iraqi security official to Saudi Arabia since Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's trip to the kingdom was cancelled after the strikes on 29 July.

Officials from the Hashed al-Shaabi, an armed Iraqi alliance also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, which includes pro-Iran groups, said the US-Saudi strikes killed 20 militants, including five Iranians.

Riyadh said its forces had intercepted drones targeting oil facilities, blaming Iran-backed groups in Iraq for the attacks.

"Iraq will remain a cherished neighbour, we share bonds of brotherhood, solidarity, and mutual support with its government and its brotherly people. The Kingdom will always stand by Iraq to support its security, stability, development, and prosperity, for the benefit of Iraq and its brotherly people," Khalid bin Salman wrote in a post on X.

He added that he had met with the director of Iraq's Office of the Commander in Chief, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, saying the pair "reviewed Saudi-Iraqi relations in the military and defence sectors" and discussed developments in the Middle East.

"We also emphasised the importance of continued coordination and cooperation between our two countries to serve our mutual interests and ensure the region's security and stability," he wrote.

التقيت معالي مدير مكتب القائد العام للقوات المسلحة العراقية الفريق الأول الركن عبدالأمير الشمري.

— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) August 13, 2026

استعرضنا العلاقات السعودية العراقية في المجال العسكري والدفاعي، وبحثنا التطورات الإقليمية، وأكدنا أهمية مواصلة التنسيق والتعاون بين بلدينا بما يخدم مصالحنا المشتركة ويحقق أمن المنطقة… pic.twitter.com/llM0J8jxSp