In the shadow of the ongoing United States–Israel war over Iran, Iraq’s deserts have been transformed into a stage for a secondary conflict. Drones and missiles launched by Iran-aligned armed groups regularly litter the night sky toward the Arabian Peninsula, turning Iraqi soil into a launchpad while the government in Baghdad struggles to intervene.
The growing blockade has created an unprecedented diplomatic crisis, severely impacting Iraq’s hard-earned relations with its Arab neighbors. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan issued a strongly worded joint statement Condemn attacks on Gulf infrastructure.
The six Gulf Cooperation Council countries described the cross-border attacks as a gross violation of national sovereignty and international law. He specifically cited UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which calls for Iran to immediately stop all attacks on neighboring countries. While holding the Iraqi government directly responsible for controlling armed groups operating within their borders, Arab states asserted their right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Faced with growing regional isolation, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry responded Thursday, saying the security of Arab countries is “an integral part” of Iraq’s national security.
Baghdad categorically rejected the use of its territory to target Gulf countries or Jordan, and said it was taking the necessary measures “in accordance with the constitution and law.” In a calculated diplomatic move, the government expressed its “full readiness” to receive any information or evidence regarding the attacks and to address them “responsibly and expeditiously”.
calculated shadow war
Despite Baghdad’s assurances, analysts warn that the government’s inability to rein in these groups on the ground continues to erode its sovereignty.
Majid al-Qaisi, a retired Iraqi major-general, said groups operating under the umbrella of the Islamic resistance in Iraq were launching 21 to 31 operations a day against targets in the Gulf and Jordan.
Al-Qaisi said the groups have carried out more than 454 cumulative operations since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, creating a front of psychological and economic erosion against Gulf security. He observed that Baghdad’s official response appeared to be aimed more at addressing diplomatic embarrassments than as a proactive security measure.
Since the war began, Tehran has said it is targeting only US bases in the region. However, Gulf countries have pointed to repeated attacks by Iran against their civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, industrial plants and hotels. Experts argue that Iran is deliberately using Iraqi groups to circumvent international resolutions and avoid direct legal responsibility.
Khaled al-Jaber, director of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs in Doha, Qatar, explained that the change from direct Iranian state attacks to proxy attacks represents a deliberate turn in the conflict.
Al-Jaber said, “Iran is not backing away from confrontation; rather, it is refocusing it through instruments that are less politically costly.” He said this strategy allows actors to attack from the shadows, keeps adversaries hesitant due to blurred lines of responsibility, and tests the limits of Gulf restraint by constantly increasing the cost of their patience.
price of compromised sovereignty
For Iraq, its inability to prevent its territory from being attacked by its neighbors is causing huge domestic and diplomatic losses.
Ahmed Abdel Mohsen al-Mulaifi, a former Kuwaiti minister and member of parliament, argued that a state hosting armed groups operating outside the law cannot be considered fully sovereign. He warned that Tehran’s reliance on proxies in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen is a deliberate strategy to reduce pressure on itself, effectively using Arab states as a shield in its geopolitical struggle.
Al-Mulaifi warned that if US President Donald Trump follows through on threats of a ground invasion of Iran, Tehran could activate its Iraqi proxies to open dangerous new land fronts on the Kuwaiti and Saudi borders.
As more projectiles headed for neighboring capitals light up the Iraqi night sky, Baghdad’s diplomatic statements are ringing hollow compared to the reality on the ground. Iraq now faces a narrow window to regain its sovereignty before the patience of its Arab neighbors completely runs out.
