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US warns Iraq over potential Israel strike in response to Iran attack from its soil

November 7, 2024 at 10:16 am

US President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks at a White House Press Briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 15, 2023 [Celal Güneş – Anadolu Agency]

The Biden administration has warned the Iraqi government that Israel may attack it if it does not prevent a planned Iranian assault from its territory, Axios reported.

Citing American and Israeli officials, Axios added that US and Israeli intelligence indicates that Iran is planning a major attack against Israel from Iraqi territory in the coming days, in response to a recent Israeli strike.

Officials stated that since Israel’s air strikes on Iran two weeks ago, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps have moved drones and ballistic missiles into Iraq and are preparing a coordinated strike against Israel.

According to Axios, the United States has publicly and privately warned Iran against launching such an attack, but thus far, the Iranians have shown no willingness to de-escalate.

It also noted that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Sunday regarding the planned Iranian strike from Iraq. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the same issue with Al-Sudani the following day.

Sullivan and Blinken informed Al-Sudani that Iraq must not allow Iran to launch an attack on Israel from its soil. “If you don’t, we won’t be able to stop Israel from striking Iraq,” Axios said the Biden administration told the Iraqi prime minister.

The White House and the State Department declined to comment on the matter, and the Iraqi embassy in Washington also refrained from issuing a statement.

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