Iraqi lawmaker blames US for airspace breach used in Israeli strike on Iran

BAGHDAD — The chair of Iraq’s parliamentary Security and Defense Committee on Monday accused the United States of bearing full responsibility for violations of Iraqi airspace, allegedly by Israeli forces to launch strikes on Iran, calling it a clear breach of Iraq’s sovereignty and of bilateral security agreements with Washington.

Committee Chairman Karim Aliwi said the Israeli assault, which he described as “Zionist aggression,” involved aircraft crossing through Iraqi skies to reach targets in Iran. He argued that the U.S., which helps oversee Iraq’s airspace under a long-standing security framework, either permitted the operation or failed to prevent it.

“I hold the U.S. administration fully responsible for these flagrant airspace violations,” Aliwi said in a statement. “This clear breach of the terms of the security agreement with Baghdad represents a dismantling of bilateral understandings and a blow to the trust between the two sides.”

Aliwi warned that the use of Iraqi territory for foreign military operations would not be tolerated. “We will not accept that Iraq’s skies be turned into an open corridor for hostile aircraft,” he said, adding that further violations would trigger a strong response from both lawmakers and the public.

His comments followed an earlier statement from the federal government, which condemned what it described as Israeli incursions into Iraqi airspace. The government warned Saturday that it reserves the right to respond under international law and the United Nations Charter.

“The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announces the extension of the closure of Iraqi airspace to all arriving and departing flights,” the Defense Ministry said Saturday, citing “the safety and security of civil aviation.”

In a separate statement, Sabah Al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said Iraq reaffirmed its “firm and unequivocal rejection of any violation of Iraqi airspace or its use in military attacks carried out by the Zionist entity against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any neighboring regional country.”

Full statement by Aliwi:

I condemn in the strongest terms the criminal Zionist aggression that targeted the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, considering this blatant attack not only a clear violation of international laws and conventions, but also a direct threat to the security and stability of the entire region. It paves the way for dangerous escalation that could drag the region into unpredictable and hazardous consequences.

What makes this aggression even more grave is that the attacking aircraft violated Iraqi airspace to carry out their criminal strike—airspace that, under the current security agreement between Iraq and the United States, is under the supervision and management of the American side. The U.S. forces’ disregard for these violations, or turning a blind eye to them, can only be interpreted as explicit collusion and full partnership in this treacherous act. This is entirely unacceptable and directly infringes upon Iraq’s sovereignty and national dignity.

I strongly warn against the continuation of this dangerous disregard for Iraqi airspace, which constitutes an outrageous affront to the authority and sovereignty of the Iraqi state. I stress that this aggression will not go unanswered. As a member of the Iraqi parliament, I will not accept that Iraq’s skies be turned into an open corridor for hostile aircraft. We will not stand idle in the face of such blatant violations, and I, along with all those who care for this nation, will take a firm national stance that will deter anyone who thinks of tampering with our sovereignty, regardless of their source or power.

I hold the U.S. administration fully responsible for these flagrant airspace violations. This clear breach of the terms of the security agreement with Baghdad represents a dismantling of bilateral understandings and a blow to the trust between the two sides. It also poses a direct threat to Iraq’s internal and regional security. Continued official silence in the face of these violations will be met with firm responses at all political and public levels.

I also call on the international community, the UN Security Council, and United Nations organizations to break their alarming silence and take urgent and effective measures to deter the rogue Zionist entity, which has become an increasing threat to peace and security in the region and the world. Strict sanctions must be imposed to prevent it from repeating such aggressive actions.

I affirm, with absolute clarity, that Iraq—its people, leadership, and lawmakers—will never allow its airspace to be turned into an open arena for foreign aggression. The final word belongs to the people of this nation, who are firmly committed to defending their land, sovereignty, and national decision by all legitimate means.