With renewed Gaza attacks, Iraq back in Israel’s crosshairs: FM

In the wake of Israel’s resumption of indiscriminate attacks on Gaza, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned of potential Israeli military strikes against Iraq following “messages” via a third party indicating that Israel intends to target the country in retaliation for any actions by Iraqi armed factions seen as close to Iran.

Speaking on state television on Tuesday, the Iraqi foreign minister said, “The Zionist threats to strike Iraq were clear. Our government, constitution and interests all prevent us from opting for war. We received messages indicating the Zionist entity planned a series of strikes on Iraq.” 

He added that while contacts with Washington and other international partners have helped distance Baghdad from immediate danger, significant threats remain—particularly given Iraq’s geographical proximity to Iran.

Iraqi security and political analyst Ghani Al-Ghadban told The New Arab that the threats by Israel serve as a warning ahead of any moves by Iraqi militias following the resumption of attacks on Gaza and Yemen. 

He also said that a direct threat from the United States Secretary of Defence deepened the warning. 

“That threat required the government to control the factions and ensure weapons remain in state hands; otherwise, both the Americans and their ally, the Zionist entity [Israel], would take strict measures,” al-Ghadban explained. 

Al-Ghadban also ruled out any escalation by the pro-Iran militias in Iraq due to the grave threats posed by Israel and the Trump administration, clarifying, “If the Iraqi militias, who take orders from the Iranian side, were to fire a bullet against the Zionist regime, the US forces, Israel and the US would retaliate immediately and more aggressively.”

Meanwhile, Israel continues to savagely target civilians in Gaza. According to the health ministry, at least 413 Palestinians have been killed and 562 injured in Israeli strikes that began early on Tuesday—one of the deadliest days since the 17-month conflict with the enclave began. The airstrikes, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas refused to amend the ceasefire agreement, have shattered a ceasefire that had held since January.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement condemning the renewed military operations in Gaza. 

“We express the Republic of Iraq’s condemnation in the strongest terms and our repudiation of the renewed brutal military operations being carried out by the Zionist entity against unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip,” the statement reads.

“These aggressive actions represent a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law and confirm the continuation of the oppressive policy pursued by the Zionist entity against the Palestinian people. We call on the international community to act urgently to put an end to these grave violations and to protect Palestinian civilians,” the statement continued.

Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq had previously declared a cessation of attacks on Israeli targets in the pre-1948 Palestinian territories following a truce with Hamas on 19 January. 

Professor Ihsan Al-Shammari, a strategic and international studies expert at the University of Baghdad and head of the Political Thinking Centre, warned in February that Iran currently fears the possibility of an Israeli strike on its nuclear facilities if no agreement is reached on its nuclear programme, ballistic missiles and weapons capabilities.

 “If Iran does not turn inward and limit its regional ambitions, an American-Israeli alliance against it could become inevitable,” he said.

As the situation evolves, regional experts and officials warn that any further escalation could trigger a broader conflict across the region.