Iraqi foreign minister: Israeli threats ‘still possible’ but ‘more dangerous in the past’

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein acknowledged that Israel still issues threats against Iraq, but noted that their impact is not as severe as it once was.

Speaking with state‑owned Al‑Iraqiya, Hussein remarked, “The threats existed previously and are still possible now, but they were more dangerous in the past. The Israeli threats were clear, and there was a message from their foreign minister to the Security Council regarding the Iraqi factions.”

He stressed, “The [Iraqi] government has no decision for war and has not made such a decision.”

Hussein’s comments come amid rising regional tensions. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled, and Tuesday night, Israel conducted airstrikes on Gaza that Palestinian health authorities said claimed at least 330 lives. At the same time, U.S. forces struck Houthi targets in Yemen, marking a notable escalation in regional conflict.

Some excerpts of Hussein’s interview with the state-owned channel Al-Iraqiya:

The threats existed previously and are still possible now, but they were more dangerous in the past. The Israeli threats were clear, and there was a message from their foreign minister to the Security Council regarding the Iraqi factions, and its content was clear about the bombardment.

No one can put pressure on the Israelis except the Americans, and historically, their role in this regard has been significant. However, this does not mean that the danger has ended; rather, Israeli plans have been postponed. That is why I say that de-escalation internally leads to de-escalation externally.

The [Iraqi] government has no decision for war and has not made such a decision, as our constitution prohibits such decisions. We are still paying the price for the use of Iraqi territory throughout the past period, and we continue to do so. We need construction, not war.

We have received Israeli messages through a third party regarding a campaign or a series of strikes targeting Iraq, but the American side intervened and exerted pressure. We now need de-escalation because if war breaks out in the region, its flames will be close to us.