Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Baghdad, Jun 15: Iraq has called on the United States to prevent Israeli fighter jets from using its airspace to carry out military strikes, following recent Israeli attacks on Iran that reportedly involved overflights through Iraqi territory.
In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Iraqi armed forces spokesperson Sabah Al-Numan urged Washington to honor its obligations under international law and the Strategic Framework Agreement, which governs U.S.-Iraq relations. “The Iraqi government calls on the United States to prevent any airspace violations by Israeli aircraft,” Al-Numan said, according to Xinhua news agency.
The statement reaffirmed Iraq’s “categorical rejection” of the use of its airspace for launching attacks on any neighboring country, including Iran, asserting that such violations are a breach of both Iraqi sovereignty and international norms.
Iraq stressed that it has so far exercised maximum restraint, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the escalating regional conflict through diplomatic channels. However, the government made it clear that, under the UN Charter and international law, Iraq reserves the right to defend its sovereignty by all available means if provoked.
The call to action comes after Israel launched a wave of coordinated airstrikes on Iranian targets in the early hours of Friday, striking sensitive military, nuclear, and missile facilities — including locations in Tehran. According to Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, the attacks have resulted in at least 78 deaths and more than 320 injuries.
A senior Iraqi government source told the state-run Iraqi News Agency that Iraq submitted a formal complaint to the UN Security Council on Friday, condemning Israel’s use of its airspace for military purposes. The source emphasized that as the leader of the international coalition against ISIS, the U.S. bears the responsibility of ensuring Iraq’s territorial integrity is respected.
“The integrity of Iraqi airspace is non-negotiable,” the official said, urging Washington to step in and prevent further escalations that could drag Iraq deeper into the growing regional conflict.