Iraq has filed a formal protest with the United Nations, condemning Israel’s use of Iraqi airspace to launch a recent attack on Iran, a government statement announced Monday. The protest letter, addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, criticizes what Baghdad describes as Israel’s "blatant violation" of Iraq's sovereignty in an October 26 strike on Iranian targets.
Government spokesman Bassim Alawadi confirmed that Iraq’s foreign ministry will raise the issue with the United States, a close ally of Israel, in an effort to address this breach. The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, as Israel continues military operations against Iran, purportedly in response to an Iranian missile strike earlier this month.
According to Iranian military sources, the recent Israeli attack involved long-range missiles fired from Iraqi airspace, which is under U.S. monitoring as part of its anti-jihadist coalition presence in Iraq. The U.S. has not publicly commented on Iraq’s allegations, which could further strain Baghdad’s delicate balancing act between its alliances with Tehran and Washington.
While the Iraqi government has generally sought neutrality in regional conflicts, pro-Iran factions within Iraq, including the influential Kataeb Hezbollah, have denounced the airspace violation as a "dangerous precedent." The group accused the U.S. of complicity, warning of possible retaliation for what it termed “aggression.”
Baghdad’s protest reflects Iraq's complex position as it navigates close ties with both Tehran and Washington while attempting to remain uninvolved in escalating hostilities.
Government spokesman Bassim Alawadi confirmed that Iraq’s foreign ministry will raise the issue with the United States, a close ally of Israel, in an effort to address this breach. The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, as Israel continues military operations against Iran, purportedly in response to an Iranian missile strike earlier this month.
According to Iranian military sources, the recent Israeli attack involved long-range missiles fired from Iraqi airspace, which is under U.S. monitoring as part of its anti-jihadist coalition presence in Iraq. The U.S. has not publicly commented on Iraq’s allegations, which could further strain Baghdad’s delicate balancing act between its alliances with Tehran and Washington.
While the Iraqi government has generally sought neutrality in regional conflicts, pro-Iran factions within Iraq, including the influential Kataeb Hezbollah, have denounced the airspace violation as a "dangerous precedent." The group accused the U.S. of complicity, warning of possible retaliation for what it termed “aggression.”
Baghdad’s protest reflects Iraq's complex position as it navigates close ties with both Tehran and Washington while attempting to remain uninvolved in escalating hostilities.
