Baghdad was hoping that it would not be involved in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict but it has. All sides along with the pro-Iran Resistance have carried out operations within its territory.
The U.S. and Israel started by targeting members of the Iraqi Resistance. On February 28 when hostilities began Kataib Hezbollah’s base in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr was hit twice leading to two dead and five wounded.
The next day four Asaib Ahl Al-Haq men died in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike in Diyala while Kataib Hezbollah camps in Qaim and Akashat Anbar were hit. The later led to three casualties. A checkpoint manned by the Babylon Brigades north of Mosul and a charity run by the Shabak 30th Hashd Brigade in the Ninewa Plains were struck. Jurf al-Sakhr was struck again as well.
Iran and the Resistance responded by going after bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq. On February 28 drones were shot down near Baghdad Airport, the Imam Ali airbase in Dhi Qar, a military camp in Basra that killed an Iraqi soldier, and Irbil. March 1 drones and missiles were used against Irbil and an Iranian Kurdish Opposition group in Sulaymaniya province.
In total the Resistance claimed 16 operations within Iraq and the Middle East on February 28 and another 23 on March 1.
The Resistance also organized protests outside the Green Zone in Baghdad against the Americans and Israelis. The security forces had to use tear gas and live bullets to force them back in an apparent attempt to storm the gates.
Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani has struggled to keep Iraq out of the Iranian conflict with limited success. The Resistance has usually carried out attacks in retaliation for Tehran being targeted but they have been a show of force rather than aimed at causing casualties. As a result Iraq has been a secondary target. The premier has to be hoping that it will stay that way because if Israel and the U.S. were to go after pro-Iranian leaders that could lead to a political crisis as they head major parties that are involved in forming a new government.
SOURCES
Bas News, “Rocket Strikes Hit Iranian Kurdish Opposition Sites in Sulaymaniyah,” 3/1/26
Hussein, Dalshad, “Missiles, Sirens, and Darkness: Erbil’s Long Night,” Al Hurra, 2/28/26
Kurdistan 24, “Erbil’s Air Defense Intercepts Drone Attack, No Casualties Reported,” 3/1/26
- “Iran-Backed Iraqi Militia Says Four Fighters Killed in US-Israel Airstrike as Protests Erupt Across Iraq,” 3/1/26
- “Iraqi Militia Group Claims Drone Attack on US Bases in Erbil,” 3/1/26
Mahmoud, Sinan, “Iraq risks being pulled into conflict after two Iran-aligned fighters killed in attack,” The National, 2/28/26
NINA, “Iranian TV: US military base in Erbil targeted with missiles and drones,” 3/1/26
- “Islamic Resistance in Iraq Carries Out Twenty-Three Operations Against Enemy Bases in Iraq and the Region,” 3/1/26
- “Security Media Cell confirms that a Popular Mobilization Forces/45th Brigade position was targeted by two airstrikes in the Akashat area,” 3/1/26
- “SMC: 9 Drones, Attempted To Target Military Sites In Basra, Shot Down,” 2/28/26
- “Targeting a Popular Mobilization Forces Site in Al-Qaim,” 3/1/26
Shafaq News, “Confirming Shafaq News, the Security Media Cell reports: A military site in Basra was targeted,” 2/28/26
- “A drone targeted a Popular Mobilization Forces position north of Mosul, causing no casualties,” 3/1/26
- “Second attack in hours: An “unidentified” drone targets a Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters in the Nineveh Plains,” 3/1/26
- “Three members of Kataib Hezbollah were killed in an airstrike in Anbar (Update),” 3/1/26
- “US air defenses shoot down drone near Baghdad airport,” 2/28/26
Al Sumaria, “Air strikes target “Jurf al-Nasr” north of Babylon,” 4/1/26
No comments:
Post a Comment