Regional War on the Horizon.. Factions in Baghdad Prepare for Israeli Strike

Regional War on the Horizon.. Factions in Baghdad Prepare for Israeli Strike
Mutual threats between Israel and Iran, along with the intervention of Iraqi factions, increase the complexity of the regional scene and threaten to turn the limited conflict into a wider struggle tha
October 9, 2024, 10:29 pm

الحشد الشعبي

Media sources revealed on Wednesday that armed groups in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, have begun evacuating their centers in anticipation of a potential Israeli attack.

This step comes amid a state of anticipation prevailing in the Middle East, where Israel's reaction to the Iranian missile attack that occurred last week is awaited, which came in response to the Israeli military escalation in Lebanon.

Although the Iranian attack did not result in human casualties in Israel, and Washington described it as ineffective, tension still looms over the region.

Coinciding with the launch of dozens of Iranian missiles at Israel, and Washington's pledge to support the latter, Iraqi organizations announced that US facilities in Iraq and the region would be targeted if the United States participates in any response to the Iranian strikes against Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that Iran would pay the price for its missile attack, while Tehran warned that any retaliatory action would be met with widespread destruction, raising fears of a wider war in the oil-rich region, which could drag the United States into it.

Iraqi armed groups allied with Iran, including Kataib Hezbollah, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Harakat al-Nujaba, form what is known as the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" formation, which in recent months has announced drone attacks on targets in Israel against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.

Since April, Israel has confirmed a number of airstrikes from the eastern side, without accusing a specific party, and has repeatedly announced the interception of drones outside its airspace.

The escalation in Lebanon and the year-long war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip have raised fears of an expansion of the conflict in the Middle East, which could draw Iran, as well as the United States, Israel's strongest ally, into the confrontation circle.

The situation in Lebanon has significantly worsened over the past few weeks, with Israel carrying out a series of assassinations targeting prominent Hezbollah leaders, and initiating ground operations in the south before expanding their scope this week.

Hezbollah is considered the most heavily armed group among the organizations and factions supported by or allied with Iran in the Middle East, and it has been exchanging fire with Israel across the border in support of Palestinian factions fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip.

Amidst these charged atmospheres, the region appears to be on the brink of a wider conflict, calling for intensive diplomatic efforts to calm tensions and avoid an escalation that could have dire consequences for the entire region.

Levant-Agencies

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