US warns Baghdad of imminent regional military operation.
Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi revealed the details of his phone conversation with US Secretary of War Pete Hegsett.
“I had a brief call with the US Secretary of War,” Abbasi said in an interview. “He informed me that an imminent military operation is underway in the region, and this is our final warning to you: Iraqi armed groups should not react.”
The Iraqi Defense Minister added that during the 11-minute call, the US official emphasized that Washington was planning to strike a preemptive strike on one of the countries in the region and warned that the US would respond harshly if any interference or reaction was observed from armed groups affiliated with Iraq.
Abbasi explained that Baghdad is monitoring developments on the ground and is in constant contact with the US and regional parties to prevent the conflict from spreading into Iraqi territory.
“We have emphasized that Iraq should not become a battlefield for others,” he said. The Iraqi government has warned all groups to refrain from any provocative actions or arbitrary responses.”
The Iraqi defense minister also stated that Baghdad has pledged to maintain the security of international coalition bases on its soil, but at the same time has called on the United States to “respect Iraqi sovereignty and not involve the country in any military operations.”
The report concludes that the call between the two sides took place in a “tense but diplomatic” atmosphere, and the United States considered this warning to be a “final warning” to Baghdad.
In a television interview, Abbasi said that the call lasted about 11 minutes and that the army chief of staff, deputy commander of joint operations, and director of Iraqi military intelligence were also present.
He added that the US Secretary of War had clearly warned at the end of the call: “This is your final warning, and you know very well how the current government will respond.”