ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Iraqi government on Wednesday said that the recent Israeli letter protesting attacks by pro-Iran Iraqi factions at the UN Security Council is nothing more than “announcement of imminent direct attacks” against the country.

In a letter to the Security Council on Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar urged the council to take “immediate action” to address the growing strikes by Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq on Israeli territory, calling the Iraqi government “responsible” for the attacks.

Iraqi government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi rejected the Israeli complaint, labeling it a “mere excuse” to justify the Israeli regime’s plans to expand the scope of the conflict.

“The Zionist foreign minister’s letter to the UN and invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter for self-defense, is nothing but an announcement of imminent direct attacks," Awadi told Iraqi state media, claiming "had it not been for the Iraqi government's maneuvers and diplomatic and political steps, Israel would have carried out its threats months ago.”

Iraq has so far managed to shield itself from the conflict's direct effects, but continued attacks by pro-Iran Iraqi armed factions against Israeli targets have raised concerns of a potential Israeli retaliation.

The spokesperson reiterated that “the decision of war and peace” was in the hands of the government, adding that Baghdad continues to take measures to prevent the use of Iraqi territories for launching attacks against Israel, which would grant the latter the pretext it needs to invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Awadi said that the Iraqi government has decided to take several measures to protects itself from the Israeli threat, including submitting two protest notes against Israel to the Security Council in August and October, and calling on the UN to issue a decision in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN charter, which defines the Security Council’s powers to maintain peace through determining “the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression.”

Baghdad has also moved toward the US to support Iraq and its self-defense, as well as its allies in the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) to help curb the Israeli threat, Awadi added.

When it comes to internal security, Awadi stressed that all armed forces are prepared to protect themselves, including taking measures to protect any violation of Iraqi airspace, increasing the number of border guards in the western region, and boosting military intelligence.

Iraqi military spokesperson Yehia Rasool on Wednesday said that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has directed all security forces to “prevent and pursue any military activity outside the state's control.”

Sudani has called for enhancing security on Iraq’s western borders, enabling the air defense forces to protect the Iraqi airspace, and ensuring that field commanders bear responsibility for any breach in their area that could endanger the country’s security, according to the military spokesperson.

"The government is continuing its measures to prevent the use of Iraqi territory to launch any attack, and this has already resulted in the seizure of weapons prepared for launching, and it is legally pursuing anyone who participates in such activities that threaten the security of Iraq and the safety of its territory," Rasool told state media.

"The security forces are determined to pursue anyone who dares to tamper with the security and stability of Iraqi society,” he added.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella network of Iran-backed armed groups, has claimed hundreds of attacks against Israeli and American targets since October 2023 in response to the war in Gaza.

The group has intensified its attacks on Israeli territory in recent months following the killing of several “Axis of Resistance” leaders in Israeli strikes.

 
Two Israeli soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded in an attack on the annexed Golan Heights launched from Iraq in early October.

“The Government of Iraq is responsible under international law to prevent the use of its territory as a base for attacks against other notions,” wrote Sa’ar in its letter to the Security Council, calling on Baghdad to “fulfill this obligation and to take immediate action to halt and prevent these attacks.”