A group of six Arab states has formally urged the government in Baghdad to act decisively to prevent armed factions based in Iraq from launching attacks on neighbouring countries, warning that continued strikes risk fuelling wider regional conflict.
In a joint statement issued Wednesday, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan strongly condemned “blatant Iranian attacks” carried out both directly by Iran and through allied armed groups operating out of Iraqi territory, describing such actions as violations of sovereignty and international law. They called on Iraq to take immediate steps to stop attacks targeting their states.
The statement said the attacks, which have included strikes on infrastructure and military assets, contravene UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026) and stressed that countries have a “right of self‑defence” under Article 51 of the UN Charter if their security is threatened.
The appeal comes amid broader Middle East instability tied to the ongoing conflict sparked by U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran; Tehran and its allied militias have responded with missile and drone strikes across the region, including from forces in Iraq.
Analysts say Baghdad faces mounting pressure from Gulf states and Western partners to exert greater control over Iran‑aligned militias that have operated with considerable autonomy inside Iraq, even as the Iraqi government tries to balance internal political dynamics and maintain diplomatic ties with neighbouring capitals.
The call for Iraqi intervention underscores rising concerns among regional governments that unchecked militia activity could draw more states into a broader confrontation centered on Iran’s expanding proxy networks.
