Iraqi politician Aed Al-Hilali, a close associate of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, warned on Sunday that Iraq could turn into a direct regional battlefield following the recent escalation involving American intervention in the war between Iran and Israel. He described such intervention, if it occurs, as a “catastrophic scenario.”
Al-Hilali said, “With the United States becoming deeply involved in the ongoing war between Iran and the Zionist entity, Iraq now stands at a dangerous crossroads—especially given the threats made by Iraqi armed factions to immediately join the confrontation. The statements from the leaders of these factions were not mere media posturing but carried serious warnings that Iraq could be dragged into becoming a direct battleground.”
He added, “If the Iraqi factions enter the fray as they have pledged, Iraq will pay a heavy price in terms of its security, stability, economy, and potentially even national unity. Despite these factions' significant firepower and organizational structure, operating outside the state's framework would deprive Iraq of its sovereignty and transform its territory into a battlefield for international retaliation.
He continued, “Such involvement would inevitably lead to attacks on U.S. bases across Iraq, prompting an inevitable American military response that would place Baghdad in the crossfire of its two battling allies. This catastrophic scenario would only deepen Iraq’s international isolation and undermine the government’s efforts at diplomacy and de-escalation.”
Al-Hilali concluded by stating, “Iraq's only viable option now is not to fight on behalf of others, but to cling to its sovereignty and prevent any internal or external party from dragging it into a war in which it has neither stake nor interest.”