Iraq Walks a Tightrope as Tensions Escalate, Becoming a Battleground in Wider Regional Conflict
Erbil, Iraq – Iraq is increasingly caught in the crosshairs of escalating regional tensions, with a surge in attacks on its soil and a firm rejection from Baghdad of being used as a launching pad in the wider Middle East conflict. The country’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, directly told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iraq will not allow its airspace, territory, or waters to be used for military action targeting neighboring countries, according to the Iraqi government.
The warning comes amid a flurry of strikes across Iraq on Tuesday, including one targeting a group affiliated with the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a largely Shia alliance now integrated into Iraq’s regular army. Four members of the Iran-backed Kataib Imam Ali group, affiliated with the PMF, were killed and 12 injured in air attacks in northern Iraq, the group claimed, blaming the U.S. for the “American aggression” in the Dibis district of Kirkuk province. The Iraqi government confirmed PMF fighters were killed in a “bombing” in Kirkuk, but did not attribute responsibility.
Adding another layer to the volatile situation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced they targeted a U.S. base in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, specifically the Al-Harir Air Base, with five missiles.
Iraq shares borders with both Iran, against which the U.S. and Israel launched a war on February 28, and the Gulf region, which has been targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks. This geographical position, coupled with the presence of both U.S. troops and Iran-backed groups, has long made Iraq a proxy battleground.
Since the start of the current conflict, bases belonging to the PMF have been repeatedly targeted. Drone and rocket attacks have also hit Baghdad International Airport, a key location housing a military base and a U.S. diplomatic facility, as well as oil fields and facilities. Security sources reported two drones were downed near the airport on Monday night.
The autonomous Kurdistan region in the north, which hosts U.S. troops, has been a frequent target, though many of the drones have been intercepted. Kurdish counterterrorism forces stated they downed three explosive-laden drones over Erbil on Monday, with one falling near the UAE Consulate.
“All these attacks taking place overnight and early this morning highlight how increasingly Iraq is becoming a battleground in this widening” Middle East war, reported Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig from Erbil.
The Kurdistan Regional Government strongly condemned the attacks, stating they “target civilians and cultural institutions” and violate international law.
Al-Sudani’s firm stance with Rubio underscores Iraq’s desire to avoid being drawn further into the regional conflict, rejecting “any attempt to drag the country into ongoing conflicts” and condemning “violations of its airspace by any party.” However, the escalating attacks demonstrate the difficulty of maintaining neutrality as tensions continue to rise. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards’ pervasive influence, as noted by the New York Times, further complicates the situation and raises concerns about Iraq’s ability to fully control its own security.
