Iraq denies involvement in Iran’s strike on Israel
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. Photo: AFP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, said on Tuesday that Baghdad had not received any reports that missiles or drones were launched from Iraq during the Iranian attack on Israel.
Al-Sudani’s remarks took place during a press interview with CNN in response to allegations made by the Israeli army that missiles or drones were launched from Iraq.
“We will not allow Iraq to be involved in the conflict, and we are committed to this,” the Iraqi Prime Minister clarified.
Iraqi airspace was a major route for Iran’s unprecedented drone and ballistic missile attacks on Israel.
A US official told Axios News that the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, informed his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, on Sunday that Israel has no choice but to respond to the unprecedented Iranian attack.
The source explained that Gallant told Austin in a phone call that Israel cannot allow ballistic missiles to be launched on its territory without a response.
In retaliation for an Israeli raid on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that left 12 people dead, including two Iranian generals, Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel over the weekend.
Israel intercepted almost all of the missiles and drones, with assistance from the US, the UK, neighboring Jordan, and other countries.
Since the beginning of the most recent Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, tensions in the region have grown. On that day, Hamas militants launched a cross-border attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 250 more.
In response, Israel launched an attack in Gaza that, according to local health professionals, has killed over 33,800 people and caused widespread devastation.