Saudi Arabia, which has historically practiced quiet diplomacy, has found itself dragged into the crisis in Iraq, which has blamed the Sunni monarchy of backing the insurgency against Baghdad. The Saudi embassy in London responded with a statement denying any support for the Sunni or other militant groups after the Iraq civil war spilled over into the oil-rich kingdom.

Three mortar shells struck inside Saudi territory on 8 July near the remote northern border with Iraq, where militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) have been battling Iraqi forces. (CONTINUED - 771 WORDS)