Iraq is increasingly being dragged into the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, enduring deadly attacks from both warring sides on its territory.
Meanwhile, Lebanon has been drawn to the conflict as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah is trading fire with Israel in retaliation for the killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This escalation has triggered heavy Israeli airstrikes and a ground incursion into border areas.
In light of this, the Former Senior Military Advisor to US Department of State, Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, highlights similarities between Iraq and Lebanon in this regard, as well as the US’ strategy to deal with the Iraqi situation.
Chaos in Iraq
The chaotic situation in Iraq has raised questions over how the US will handle this issue to maintain stability in the country.
Speaking to Al-Hadath, Col. Dahouk explained how Iraq‘s situation is similar to Lebanon. “This is mainly an Iraqi problem. There are similarities between Iraq and Lebanon,” he said.
“Israel gave the Lebanese government ample time to disarm Hezbollah and come up with a solution that the Lebanese can live with. There were couple of years and nothing happened, and that’s why we have the Israelis now, they have basically invaded Lebanon to do it themselves,” he added.
Col. Dahouk said that the same thing applies to Iraq. “The US gave time to the Iraqi government to disarm all these militias that fall outside the government, and it was not able to that,” he noted.
“Now, it’s very clear that those militias that fall outside the Iraqi government are clearly allowing the IRGC and take instructions directly from the IRGC and they are fighting against the US interests,” he added.
“So it seems just like Israel was forced to do it by itself in Lebanon, the US is forced to do what is necessary to protect its interests in Iraq,” he said.
US Approach to Militias
Col. Dahouk noted that the US will show no tolerance for regional militias, as it attempts to negotiate a deal with Iran to end the current hostilities.
“I think the negotiations with Iran might be flexible in terms of what might be acceptable for weakening regimes or coming up with frameworks, but there will be no more tolerance to non-state actors in the region, whether in Lebanon or Iraq or any other state,” he said.
According to Col. Dahouk, the US has decided to terminate all Iranian-backed militias across the region as part of its potential deal with Iran.
“The decision is made, perhaps, to proxies. I think at the end of the day, part of those 15 points or any framework with Iran, the proxies must be done with. There is an agreement on that from the region, the US and Israel,” he said.
