‘Minimal level of involvement’: Iraqi government highlights ‘restraint’ shown by militia groups in regional tensions

BAGHDAD — Iran-backed militias in Iraq have ‘maintained a minimal level of involvement’ in the growing regional conflict, Iraqi government spokesperson Basem Al-Awadi claimed on Tuesday during an interview with Al-Hadath. He noted the militias’ calculated approach, balancing their capabilities with regional pressures, while emphasizing the government’s multi-pronged strategy to maintain stability and security for Iraq’s population of 40 million.

“The government has more than one plan to address these factions,” Al-Awadi stated, underscoring the administration’s commitment to safeguarding national security.

His comments coincide with Iraq’s recent $2 billion deal to acquire the South Korean SAM air defense system, aimed at strengthening the country’s airspace defenses amid heightened regional conflict, he said.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iran-aligned factions such as Kata’ib Hezbollah, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, and Harakat al-Nujaba—has positioned itself as a key player in the broader resistance against foreign military forces, including those of the United States, its allies, and Israel. In recent weeks, these factions have launched drone and missile attacks against Israel.

To prevent Iraq’s entanglement in regional hostilities, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani reiterated that decisions on war and peace rest solely with the state’s constitutional institutions. He warned that actions taken outside this legal framework would carry legal consequences, signaling a firm government stance against unauthorized militia activities.

Some excerpts of Al-Awadi in Interview on Al-Hadath channel:

“In a previous incident [on October 26], Israel violated Iraqi airspace to strike Iran, and Iran is certainly prepared to respond as per its right to retaliation. This situation places a heavy burden on the Iraqi government.

For a long time, Iraqi research centers have anticipated Iraq’s position as a ‘buffer zone’ or middle ground amid these exchanged strikes. This expectation led Prime Minister Al-Sudani to work toward ending the mission of the international coalition in Iraq. Since the coalition’s formation in 2014 to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq, Iraqi airspace has been under the full control of the coalition, and since then, Iraq’s air defense systems have not been renewed.

Consequently, the Iraqi government exerted significant pressure, reaching an acceptable agreement with the international coalition to end its mission. Additionally, the government undertook a major $2.08 billion deal with South Korea to procure the ‘M-SAM’ system, known as South Korea’s air defense system, an advanced system also used by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other nations.

Two years and 15 days have passed since the government took office, yet we have not received secure control over our airspace. Thus, the government took these two measures. To those who criticize the Iraqi government for not securing our airspace, we say: this is the reality. An international coalition exists, and efforts to advance Iraq’s air defense have been blocked. Therefore, the Iraqi government has fulfilled its legal, national, and ethical duty by ending the mission and signing a contract with South Korea.

The Iraqi government believes that Iran does not want a full-scale war in the region and recognizes that involving Iraq could further inflame conflict. So far, outcomes have been positive; our Iranian counterparts understand Iraq’s situation and do not place overwhelming responsibility on it. The attack was carried out by an enemy that is difficult to contain, one that is willing to violate Iraqi airspace as well as that of any other country.

Our talks with Iran have yielded positive results, with our Iranian brothers affirming that they will not violate Iraqi airspace.

The Iraqi government’s responsibility is to manage the Iraqi factions that identify with the resistance. Since the government’s formation, it has engaged with these factions, and in the past year and this year, American interests have faced only a few isolated incidents, occurring for specific reasons. Overall, through cooperation with other Iraqi parties, the government has established certain controls. As a government, we are convinced that despite reported attacks originating from within Iraq, these represent only 5-10% compared to previous periods.

In this matter, the Iraqi government walks a fine line, carefully balancing like a tightrope walker. It requires a strong stance, patience, the ability to negotiate and explain circumstances, establish new understandings, and secure significant international guarantees. The government has been working on this, striving to ensure the situation does not escalate beyond its current level, aiming to contain it through dialogue.

The Iraqi resistance factions are patriotic, fully aware of Iraq’s circumstances, cognizant of their strengths and weaknesses, and have seen the events in Gaza and southern Lebanon where leaders have been targeted. They are concerned for their country and do not want Iraq or their forces drawn into a larger conflict. Thus, I would say they have maintained a minimal level of involvement.

There is more than one plan to manage the Iraqi resistance factions. Communication is ongoing, and security forces are actively working. All parties recognize that the Iraqi government is responsible for safeguarding the interests of the Iraqi people and for protecting 42.5 million Iraqis. Personal actions cannot be permitted if they risk dragging Iraq into situations outside the established framework.

Our neighbors and brothers in the Islamic Republic of Iran fully agree with us that the situation cannot be allowed to escalate beyond its current limits.”