Iraq raised its military readiness level to the maximum in the face of escalating tensions in the region. Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali al-Zaidi sent urgent instructions to all field commanders to this effect.
The Commander-in-Chief's spokesman Sabah al-Numan told the Iraqi News Agency that these measures aimed to prevent infiltration or attack attempts. Al-Numan said Iraq's security situation was facing a "real and direct test" as regional tensions escalated.
"These tensions, especially with attempts by some external parties to use Iraqi territory and airspace in their own bilateral conflicts, are creating serious challenges in terms of sovereignty and operations," he said.
The spokesman warned that unilateral military operations by foreign actors or the use of Iraqi airspace risked dragging the country into wider regional conflicts. He stressed that Iraq would not be a party to regional conflicts and would not allow its territory to be used to attack another country.
Al-Numan stated, "Protecting Iraq's security and sovereignty is a red line and cannot be the subject of a regional compromise." He reiterated that maintaining internal security was solely the responsibility of the state's military and security institutions, and that weapons must remain exclusively in the hands of the Iraqi state.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi's instructions reportedly covered various elements of the armed forces and official facilities belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi. Al-Numan said strengthening Iraq's air defenses remained a top national priority, and that the procurement of modern radar and air defense systems was being accelerated to better protect sovereignty.