A headquarters belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces in the northern region of Nineveh province was subjected to an aerial bombardment on Wednesday evening, leading to a state of security alert in the area. Field sources reported that ambulances immediately rushed to the target site, with no official final toll on human or material losses issued yet.
This attack comes in the context of a noticeable security tension witnessed in the capital Baghdad since the early morning hours, where unidentified warplanes flew at low altitudes over residential neighborhoods. Iraqi security agencies have not issued any official clarifications regarding the nature of these aircraft or the missions they were carrying out in the central skies of the country.
Meanwhile, explosions resulting from aerial interceptions and missiles were heard in the vicinity of Camp Victoria, currently known as Martyr Mohammed Alaa Air Base. This base is considered one of the vital facilities used by the Iraqi Air Force, which adds a sensitive character to repeated attempts to target it.
On the political front, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the latest developments. During the call, Sudani stressed that targeting Iraq undermines the diplomatic efforts Baghdad is making to calm regional tensions and end the raging war.
The Iraqi Prime Minister assured his Iranian counterpart of Iraq's full commitment to the security of the Islamic Republic, emphasizing his categorical rejection of using Iraqi territory as a launchpad for any external aggressions. Sudani considered the attacks on Iraqi sovereignty a serious violation of international norms and the country's national security.
For its part, the US Embassy in Baghdad raised its security warnings for its citizens residing in Iraq to the highest levels. The new diplomatic statement warned of serious risks related to kidnappings and killings that may target American citizens, pointing to the involvement of armed factions in these threats.
Informed sources explained that these warnings were not sudden, but rather an evolution of a series of measures that began with a travel ban and then a call for immediate departure. The latest statement reflects increasing American concern about the escalating influence of militias linked to regional parties and their ability to carry out qualitative operations against Western interests.
Media reports indicated that the US Embassy linked these threats to coordinated attacks targeting diplomatic and military facilities across Iraqi provinces. This warning comes at a time when the region is witnessing sharp polarization and unprecedented military escalation that directly affects the stability of the Iraqi state.
High-level Iraqi military sources reported alarming statistics on the extent of attacks the country has faced during the past period. More than 250 attacks using drones and guided missiles were recorded, covering various areas including the provinces of the Kurdistan Region and border areas.
These data indicate that the Iraqi arena has become an open theater for settling regional and international scores since the start of the latest military escalation in the region. The Iraqi government faces enormous challenges in balancing its foreign relations with maintaining internal security control and preventing the country from sliding into widespread chaos.
Targeting Iraqi territory represents a violation of the country's sovereignty and security, and we are keen not to allow our territory to be used as a launchpad for aggression against neighbors.
شارك برأيك
Security escalation in Iraq: Bombing targets Popular Mobilization Forces, Washington warns of kidnappings and killings