Protecting Iraq is an American duty: Security agreements are not just ink on paper, 23 NOV

 Protecting Iraq is an American duty: Security agreements are not just ink on paper

In a tense atmosphere that portends an unprecedented escalation, news continues about intensive security and diplomatic moves to prevent a confrontation between Israel and Iraq, against the backdrop of attacks by armed factions on Israeli sites. While Israel has filed an official complaint with the UN Security Council against Iraq, fears are growing of an “imminent” Israeli strike that could open the door to escalation in the region.

The political advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Fadi Al-Shammari, said in press statements that “the Israeli threats have become tangible after the complaint that Tel Aviv filed with the Security Council.” He explained that the Iraqi government is working on more than one level to contain the crisis and avoid its disastrous repercussions.

Sources said that Baghdad received direct warnings from Washington that Israel was prepared to take military action unless the government could rein in the armed factions.

A source said that the Security Council is witnessing intense discussions regarding the Israeli complaint. He added: “Israel is trying to provide justifications for a possible military strike, claiming that the attacks are being launched from Iraqi territory with Iranian support.”

Washington in the circle of pressure

For its part, Washington finds itself in a sensitive position under the “Strategic Framework Agreement” with Baghdad, which imposes on it the responsibility to defend Iraq against any external threat.

However, observers believe that the American position may be less clear than it seems, as an analysis published by a Washington research center indicated that “Israel may resort to limited surgical strikes without waiting for a public green light from the United States.”

Between the field and diplomacy

A citizen named Ahmed Al-Saadi spoke about the tense atmosphere in a Facebook post, saying: “What is happening now brings to mind the atmosphere of war in the nineties. People here are afraid of the repercussions of any new confrontation.” In a tweet on the “X” platform, an account said: “If the news of an imminent Israeli strike is true, Iraq may witness one of its most complex crises since the fall of the former regime.”

Faction movements and internal balances

Field reports indicated that some armed factions have begun taking precautionary measures in preparation for any possible attack. A source close to one of the factions said in a private interview: “We are ready to defend Iraqi territory if Israel targets it.” But a citizen from Baghdad named Zainab al-Ali expressed her fears about the repercussions of these moves, saying: “Iraqis always pay the highest price in such conflicts.”

Future analysis and escalation expectations

According to strategic analyses, Israel is exploiting the escalation to impose a new equation in the region, which was confirmed by a reliable source, who said: “Any Israeli strike could be the beginning of an expansion of the conflict, as the factions will not only respond from within Iraq, but we may witness other fronts igniting.” He added: “The biggest fear is that Iraq will turn into an arena for settling regional scores.”

Iraq needs a unified position from political forces to ward off the Israeli threat, away from the divisions that have weakened the country over the past years.”  link