Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani at a press conference in the southern province of Basra Governorate, on Sept. 2, 2023. (Credit: Iraqi Prime Minister's press office/AFP)
Baghdad is keeping a low profile. In the regional arena, strikes against "Axis of Resistance" forces resumed with increased intensity recently. Israel broke the Gaza truce through massive bombings and is regularly targeting Syria and Lebanon. Meanwhile, the U.S. launched a new military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. This has prompted Iraq — often considered an ally of Tehran — to keep a low profile. It has generally stayed out of this confrontation since Oct. 7, 2023, the onset of the war in the Palestinian enclave. However, this balancing act is now more fragile as pressures from Baghdad's various partners intensify, from the U.S. to Turkey and Iran. In addition, its detachment from current regional events was exacerbated by the security challenges posed by the regime change in Damascus after Bashar al-Assad's...
Baghdad is keeping a low profile. In the regional arena, strikes against "Axis of Resistance" forces resumed with increased intensity recently. Israel broke the Gaza truce through massive bombings and is regularly targeting Syria and Lebanon. Meanwhile, the U.S. launched a new military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. This has prompted Iraq — often considered an ally of Tehran — to keep a low profile. It has generally stayed out of this confrontation since Oct. 7, 2023, the onset of the war in the Palestinian enclave. However, this balancing act is now more fragile as pressures from Baghdad's various partners intensify, from the U.S. to Turkey and Iran. In addition, its detachment from current regional events was exacerbated by the security challenges posed by the regime change in Damascus after Bashar...