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Iraq risks being dragged into the front line of a regional war after US-Israeli strikes targeting Iran spilt across its border, hitting Tehran-allied militias and prompting those groups to threaten attacks on Americans.
Shortly after the US and Israel launched a war with Iran on Saturday, two separate missile attacks hit the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah, south of Baghdad, killing at least two fighters and wounding five others, the group said. A third attack hit the same area later on Saturday but no casualties were reported.
The government confirmed the attacks on Jurf Al Sakhar without providing further details. The town, also known as Jurf Al Nasr, is about 60km south-west of Baghdad and under the control of the powerful militia.
That has prompted Kataib Hezbollah, the Al Nujaba and Sayyed Al Shuhada as well as other small militias to join the fight by attacking US troops, they announced in statements. They have previously attacked US troops in Iraq and Syria. as well as targets inside Israel, with drones and missiles.
Rockets and drones also hit US military bases and the consulate in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, a security official said. Videos on social media showed that at least one rocket was intercepted. There was no immediate comment from the US military.
Kurdish authorities have suspended classes at schools and universities until Wednesday.
Late on Saturday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella for several influential Iran-allied armed groups, announced it had carried out 16 operations using “dozens of drones targeting enemy bases in Iraq and the region”.
In a statement, the group did not give details on the targets and whether the attacks were only against US troops.
Iraqi Joint Operation Command said security forces shot down nine drones fired to attack military bases in the southern provinces of Nasiriyah and Basra. No casualties occurred, it added.
'Unjustified aggression'
Iraq's government has called for an immediate halt to military action and a return to dialogue, denouncing the “unjustified aggression” against Iran.
“The Iraqi government and people reject war and aggression in all its forms,” said a statement after a meeting of senior military and security officials chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.
The statement warned against action that “that threatens Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity”. It added: “Our territory will not be used as a passage or launch pad for attacks on Iran, nor will we allow Iraq to be dragged into the conflict.”
The government has called for international law to be respected and the use of diplomacy to resolve disputes, warning that the region risks uncontrollable consequences.
“The entire region will be exposed to unpredictable consequences, and major countries, particularly the US, must act responsibly and contribute to finding solutions beyond military options,” the statement added.
Shortly after the US-Israel strikes, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in a phone call that Iran would continue to “defend itself, targeting US military bases in the region as part of its right to self-defence”.
Mr Hussein emphasised his country’s stance against escalating military actions.
“War cannot be a means to solve problems, and dialogue and de-escalation are the best ways to address crises and maintain regional security and stability,” a statement read.
Iraq closed its airspace after the US-Israeli operation was launched against Iran. Iraqi Airways has offered refunds for ticked for the cancelled flights.
Iraq's location and relationships with regional powers make it a key player in the crisis. The country's leaders are likely to face pressure to navigate the complex web of alliances and rivalries in the region.
