Iraqi authorities officially denied circulating claims of US military activity amid regional tensions. The head of Iraq's Security Media Cell, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, announced on Sunday that reports of US aircraft landing at the Ayn al-Asad Air Base were completely baseless.
Maan stressed that these claims, circulating on social media and some news outlets, were not based on any official information. In a statement issued through the Iraqi state news agency INA, journalists, media organizations and social media users were urged to prioritize accuracy. Maan warned that only official sources should be trusted and the spread of unverified news must be prevented.
The denial came at a time of heightened regional security tensions due to the conflicts between the US, Israel and Iran. Particularly during periods of escalation, speculation about military activity at bases hosting US-led coalition forces frequently emerges, and Iraqi officials often have to reject such rumors.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the same day that they had decided to postpone new military strikes on Iran if a swift deal could be reached with Tehran. Trump stated that the US was ready to act but suspended the strikes following calls from regional partners, including Gulf countries. He stressed that any potential deal must include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of Iran's nuclear threat.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, has affected global energy markets and maritime security, raising fears of a wider regional war. A previously reached ceasefire collapsed after negotiations failed, and fighting had flared up again. Before Trump's decision to make room for diplomacy, reports had also emerged that the US and Israel could strike Iran's energy infrastructure.
The regional tension is also deeply affecting maritime trade. Commercial shipping continues to be disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, while the economic and security consequences of the conflict become increasingly apparent.
