Iraqi foreign minister warns US that Lebanon war will ‘ignite further conflict in the region’

NEWSROOM — Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the ongoing war in Lebanon could escalate into wider regional conflicts. During their meeting on Monday in Washington, D.C., Hussein emphasized the severe humanitarian crisis and cautioned that continued violence risks destabilizing the Middle East.

“The continuation of this war will ignite further conflicts in the region,” Hussein said, according to a statement from Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He noted that around one million Lebanese have been displaced within their country, while tens of thousands have fled to neighboring states due to the attacks on southern Lebanon and Beirut. Hussein also warned that prolonged conflict could “create new terrorist organizations or revive old extremist groups.” He called for an immediate ceasefire, urging international cooperation to address the growing humanitarian crisis.

In recent weeks, violence has escalated significantly, particularly between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. On Sept. 27, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting the group’s headquarters in southern Beirut. The conflict has intensified cross-border hostilities since October 2023. On Monday, Iraq’s Ministry of Migration reported that 144 Lebanese citizens, including injured individuals, crossed into Iraq via the Al-Qaim border.

The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that its troops had begun “ground raids” in villages in southern Lebanon, following Hezbollah’s claim that it had targeted “enemy soldiers” along the border. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 95 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday after a week of intense bombardments across the country’s southern, eastern, and suburban areas of Beirut.

The meeting between Hussein and Blinken took place on the sidelines of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, where Hussein praised the decade-long cooperation between Iraq and the U.S. in combating terrorism. “Iraq has gained significant experience in fighting terrorist organizations, and we are committed to remaining part of the international coalition to curb the spread of ISIS in Africa and Asia,” Hussein said. He also pointed to a recent joint statement between Iraq and the U.S. outlining a timeline for the withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq.

Hussein concluded by expressing hopes for a long-term partnership with the United States, particularly in security and military cooperation. He stressed the importance of the recent agreement to strengthen security coordination and finalize the withdrawal of coalition forces, while reaffirming Iraq’s readiness to manage its own security affairs.