Iraqi parliament to address ‘Israeli threats’ as tensions spike

BAGHDAD — Iraq Speaker of Parliament Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani has announced that parliament will convene on Monday to address threats posed by what he described as the “usurping Zionist entity.”

Al-Mashhadani emphasized the Parliament’s rejection of any attack on Iraq’s territory and pledged to pursue legal and diplomatic measures to counter such threats.

The diplomatic exchanges were prompted by a letter from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to the UN Security Council, calling for pressure on Iraq’s government to halt attacks by Iran-backed militias on Israel.

Sa’ar stated, “The Government of Iraq is responsible under international law to prevent the use of its territory as a base for attacks against other nations.” Adding that, “Israel has the inherent right to self-defense […] and to take all necessary measures to protect itself and its citizens.”

Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday that it had formally addressed the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, denouncing what it characterized as Israeli threats against Iraq.

Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani’s statement to Al-Sabah newspaper:

No voice is louder than the voice of the homeland, and the moment has come. Amid threats from the usurping Zionist entity, voices have risen — governmental, parliamentary, political, and popular — strongly rejecting any hints at targeting any inch of the nation’s land.

Following governmental actions domestically and internationally, the turn has come for the people’s representative, the parliament, which has decided to discuss these threats on Monday.

Affirming support for the government’s approach regarding war, peace, and the threats facing the country.

Parliament has set Monday as the date for a session to discuss Zionist threats, part of the session will be public, while the other part will be confidential.

Parliament, as the people’s representative, does not accept any attack on Iraq’s sovereignty in any form, and we will take all measures and steps within legal and diplomatic frameworks to support the government, particularly in this direction.

Parliament will utilize all capabilities to open dialogues and communication channels with influential countries to shield Iraq from any aggression or threats to its security.