Iraqi intelligence denies reports of imminent military strikes
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s National Intelligence Service (INIS) on Sunday denied a media report claiming Baghdad had received warnings of imminent large-scale military strikes inside the country, dismissing the claims amid growing US pressure on Iraq to curb Iranian-backed groups.
In a statement, the INIS directly addressed a report published Saturday by the Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat, which claimed the Iraqi government had received two warning messages over the past two weeks, one from an Arab country and another from a Western intelligence service, citing “indications of impending, wide-ranging military strikes inside Iraq.”
“We categorically deny the accuracy of what was stated in the newspaper's report above in its entirety and in detail, we confirm that the Iraqi government has not received any message of this kind,” the INIS said.
“We call on media outlets to exercise accuracy in dealing with such issues that affect the national security of the Iraqi state,” the statement added.
The Asharq Al-Awsat report cited Iraqi officials as saying a “friendly” country had warned Baghdad that potential targets could include government institutions linked to Shiite factions and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), military figures, drone and missile depots, and training camps. It also claimed Israel had received a “green light” from the United States to act inside Iraq.
According to the report, the alleged strikes would aim to push Shiite factions “toward concessions.”
The denial comes amid increased US pressure on Baghdad to curb Iranian influence and reduce the role of Iran-backed armed groups. Washington is reportedly urging Iraq to dissolve all armed factions, including the state-integrated PMF.
Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, told Rudaw in late November that “big changes coming” to Iraq without elaborating. “Everyone will see actions instead of words,” he said.
The latest draft of the US National Defense Authorization Act conditions continued US financial aid to Iraq on reducing the capabilities of Iran-aligned militias and bans assistance to the pro-Iran Badr Organization, led by Hadi al-Ameri, which won 18 seats in the most recent parliamentary elections.
Iran is believed to operate through multiple proxy groups in Iraq, which it has previously used to target US interests. Washington has taken additional steps to limit Tehran’s influence, including rescinding in March a long-standing waiver that allowed Iraq to import electricity from Iran.
In a statement, the INIS directly addressed a report published Saturday by the Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat, which claimed the Iraqi government had received two warning messages over the past two weeks, one from an Arab country and another from a Western intelligence service, citing “indications of impending, wide-ranging military strikes inside Iraq.”
“We categorically deny the accuracy of what was stated in the newspaper's report above in its entirety and in detail, we confirm that the Iraqi government has not received any message of this kind,” the INIS said.
“We call on media outlets to exercise accuracy in dealing with such issues that affect the national security of the Iraqi state,” the statement added.
The Asharq Al-Awsat report cited Iraqi officials as saying a “friendly” country had warned Baghdad that potential targets could include government institutions linked to Shiite factions and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), military figures, drone and missile depots, and training camps. It also claimed Israel had received a “green light” from the United States to act inside Iraq.
According to the report, the alleged strikes would aim to push Shiite factions “toward concessions.”
The denial comes amid increased US pressure on Baghdad to curb Iranian influence and reduce the role of Iran-backed armed groups. Washington is reportedly urging Iraq to dissolve all armed factions, including the state-integrated PMF.
Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, told Rudaw in late November that “big changes coming” to Iraq without elaborating. “Everyone will see actions instead of words,” he said.
The latest draft of the US National Defense Authorization Act conditions continued US financial aid to Iraq on reducing the capabilities of Iran-aligned militias and bans assistance to the pro-Iran Badr Organization, led by Hadi al-Ameri, which won 18 seats in the most recent parliamentary elections.
Iran is believed to operate through multiple proxy groups in Iraq, which it has previously used to target US interests. Washington has taken additional steps to limit Tehran’s influence, including rescinding in March a long-standing waiver that allowed Iraq to import electricity from Iran.