Iraq says threat of Israeli strikes ‘postponed, not eliminated’

“Iraq was aware of an Israeli plan to attack Iraq, but we succeeded in averting this danger,” Hussein told the official Al-Iraqia News channel on Monday.

“This danger was not eliminated, but postponed,” he added.

The top diplomat said that Baghdad engaged in contacts with Washington and other countries and succeeded in “keeping Iraq away from Zionist attacks.”

"The Zionist threats to strike Iraq were clear, and our government, our constitution, and our interests prevented us from making a decision to go to war," he said.

Hussein said that Iraq had received messages about an Israeli intention to launch a series of strikes on Iraq.

“Baghdad has now succeeded in averting this threat through communication with Washington and other capitals,” he added.

The Iraqi foreign minister voiced concern over the repercussions of any potential US attack against Iran.

On Monday, the White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump "has made it clear: Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel, but also the United States of America, will see a price to pay."

While the US has launched an aerial military campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen as of Saturday, Israel resumed its genocidal war on Gaza on Tuesday, killing more than 400 people and injuring hundreds.

More than 48,500 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 112,000 others injured in a brutal Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.