Iraqi PM to U.S. Envoy: Iraq’s Airspace Must Not Be Used for Military Escalation
Iraq PM Sudani condemns Israeli strikes using Iraqi airspace as sovereignty violation. Iraq files UN complaint, demands Security Council action to prevent further violations.
Erbil (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has strongly condemned recent Israeli strikes carried out via regional airspace, warning the United States that Iraq's sovereignty must not be violated or exploited to fuel regional conflict.
During a meeting on Friday with U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Steven Fagin and Major General Kevin Leahy, commander of the international coalition against ISIS, Sudani reiterated Iraq’s unequivocal position regarding the Israeli strike on Iran. He described the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law” and an “act of aggression that undermines the global order and threatens both regional and international security.”
Sudani criticized the timing of the attack, which he said coincided with ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, and accused its planners of intentionally seeking to escalate the situation and push the region toward a broader confrontation.
“The government of Iraq will pursue all legal avenues in response to this incident,” Sudani stated, calling on international actors to uphold foundational principles of international law.
In the same meeting, both Fagin and General Leahy underscored the U.S. administration’s declared stance of non-involvement in the attack. They reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to ensuring that Iraq remains uninvolved in the regional conflict, in line with the 2008 U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.
Sudani, meanwhile, emphasized the need for the United Nations—particularly the Security Council—to take “responsible and immediate” steps to reaffirm the prohibition on the use of force and prevent the Middle East from spiraling into uncontrolled violence.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came hours after Iraq officially submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council, denouncing Israel’s unauthorized use of Iraqi airspace to conduct military operations. The complaint described the overflights as a blatant infringement of Iraqi sovereignty and a breach of the UN Charter.
Iraq urged the Security Council to fulfill its legal and moral obligations and take immediate action to deter further violations, thereby contributing to regional stability.
