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“Hussein al-Mousawi, a spokesperson for Nujaba, one of the main armed Shi'ite factions in Iraq participating in strikes on Israel, told Reuters the strikes were a natural evolution of the role of Iraqi groups and aimed to increase the cost of the war in Gaza. They intend to strike from anywhere, for as long as is necessary. ‘The operations carried out by the Resistance are not bound by temporal or spatial boundaries," Mousawi said. "We, as a resistance, do not fear the consequences as long as we are in the right and we represent the popular and official will.’ The Iraqi government, which carefully balances its alliances with both Washington and Tehran, does not officially approve of the strikes but has been unable or unwilling to stop them. Critics say this shows the limits of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's power in a coalition government that includes Iran-backed armed groups, and may undermine efforts to rebrand Iraq as stable and open for business. Iraq does not recognise Israel and a 2022 law punishes those trying to normalise ties with death or life in prison. Israel views Iraq as an Iranian vassal state and main corridor for weapons from Iran to other armed groups including Hezbollah.” #iraq #israel #unitedstates #iran #lebanon #attacks #escalation #militias #sudani #stability #business #control #recognition #vassal #state #axis #resistance #policy #military #defense #relations #weapons #threat #middleeast #gaza https://lnkd.in/ezWwhDud

Clash with Pakistan shows Iran must take its neighbors more seriously Tehran should focus on frontier security rather than rely on cross-border strikes Vali Kaleji February 28, 2024  Amid heightened tensions with both Israel and the U.S., particularly over its support for Houthi forces in Yemen that had been attacking shipping in the Red Sea, Iran lashed out with coordinated missile and drone strikes on targets in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan all on the same day last month in a demonstration of its military prowess. But this show of strength did not work as planned. Islamabad reacted to Iran's cross-border strike on Baloch militant groups by recalling its ambassador from Tehran and launching its own air and artillery attacks against targets in Iran associated with groups seeking the independence of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. Iraq, although a close ally of Tehran and well accustomed to Iranian actions against militants based in its Kurdish autonomous region, this time also did not let Tehran's move pass quietly. It, too, recalled its ambassador and protested to the U.N. Security Council about Tehran's violation of its territorial integrity.

Rebel forces launched the largest offensive against the Syrian government in years on Wednesday, targeting key military installations and government-held areas across multiple fronts. The coordinated assault, which began at dawn, involved a mix of ground troops and air support from allied factions. Reports indicate that clashes erupted in several provinces, including Idlib and Aleppo, as rebels aimed to reclaim territory lost in previous years. Witnesses described heavy artillery fire and airstrikes, with civilians caught in the crossfire. Humanitarian organizations expressed concern over the potential for a significant increase in displacement, as thousands of families were forced to flee toward safer areas. In response, the Syrian government vowed to retaliate, stating that it would not tolerate what it termed as "terrorist activities" aimed at destabilizing the nation. International reactions varied, with some countries calling for calm and urging both sides to return to negotiations, while others expressed support for the rebels' right to fight against oppression. As the situation unfolded, analysts warned that this offensive could mark a new phase in the already complex conflict, potentially drawing in more external actors and intensifying the humanitarian crisis.

Israel Strikes Hezbollah with ‘Full Force’ Amid Calls for Ceasefire: A Pivotal Moment in the Middle East Conflict The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated dramatically, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to continue their military campaign against Hezbollah with… #BenjaminNetanyahu #Hezbollah #Israel >>> Read more

In this post Mr. Schmitt discusses the legality of strike against Hezbollah's Secretory General Nasrallah from the angle of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) also known as the Law of Armed Conflict (LOSC). An interesting read for students of IHL !

Possible US and Israeli Aistrikes on Iraq to come? Iraq’s Parliament have finalised the 2024 budget, allocating over 4.5 trillion IQD ($3.5 billion) to the Popular Mobilisation Forces. Given that groups operating under the PMF umbrella have attacked U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria and are working with Iran to launch attacks on Israel this has raised concerns in Washington. The US State Department, via spokesman Matthew Miller urged the Iraqi government to exert greater control and accountability over the factions, the inclusion of which into the budget has sparked controversy not only internationally but also domestically with Iraqi government critics making the case that the militias undermine Iraq's sovereignty and increase sectarian tensions. To add to the US’s woes, this week saw another of the PMF linked organisations, The Islamic Resistance of Iraq perform a joint operation with #Yemeni military units to attack targets in #Haifa, Israel. It has become abundantly clear given the frequency of attacks, that neither the #US or the Government of Iraq are able to prevent the #militia groups drones and missiles moving across Iraq’s territory, and in the case of the #Iraqi government they are now encouraging the militia to continue with additional funding. This has created a situation that will likely resolve with US and Israeli #Airstrikes on Iraq and as such, today it was reported in The #Jerusalem Post that Israel is close to making a decision to conduct further military operations in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. This would likely be a ground operation in #Lebanon and the #Golan Heights, along with air and ground strikes in #Syria and #Iraq aimed at weakening #Iranian backed factions through coordinated military actions alongside the US. Previous strikes against the #PMF and their sub-groups, commanders and infrastructure have seen little response but given the rise in anti-US feelings, the attacks on US interests in #Baghdad and a growing movement to boycott US goods we could see a more violent response to any action.

New Post: A look at the arsenals of Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia as cross-border strikes escalate - https://lnkd.in/gCQbzWzE - The slow-simmering cross-border conflict between Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group and Israeli forces has escalated, reviving fears that the daily clashes could expand into an all-out war - #news #business #world -------------------------------------------------- Download: Stupid Simple CMS - https://lnkd.in/g4y9XFgR -------------------------------------------------- or download at SourceForge - https://lnkd.in/gNqB7dnp

US military launches airstrikes in Syria targeting Iranian-backed groups Reason defined here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ghBUD4Ei #WorldNews #Irannews #USNews #WarUpdates #trending #worldaffairs #WorldNews #Syrian #Iranian #Airstrikes #trending #trendingnews #virals #viralnews

‼️ ISRAEL'S AIRSTRIKE DEALS A SEVERE BLOW TO ASSAD REGIME; US WARNS IRAQ OF POTENTIAL ISRAELI STRIKE AGAINST PRO-IRANIAN MILITIAS 💥 Israel launched a powerful airstrike on Palmyra in Homs' countryside, killing over 36 Syrian officers, including a brigadier general, and injuring more than 50 others. Despite previous Israeli warnings, the Assad regime continues to support Hezbollah, prompting these targeted attacks. ‼️ An Iraqi political source informed Sky News Arabic that the Iraqi government strongly believes Israeli retaliatory strikes are imminent. These strikes are expected to target military sites and leaders of specific factions and could occur within hours. 🔹The United States has notified the Iraqi government that it has exhausted diplomatic efforts to dissuade Israel from potentially launching an attack on Iraqi territory targeting pro-Iranian militias. In response, Iraq has initiated precautionary measures to prepare for such an event. Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani has briefed political factions regarding the situation, according to Al-Hadath. 🔹Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani instructed the army to take decisive measures against any military operations outside the state’s control. He emphasized the need to pursue violators and directed the preparation of emergency plans to ensure national security, as reported by Al Hadath.

‼️ ISRAEL'S AIRSTRIKE DEALS A SEVERE BLOW TO ASSAD REGIME; US WARNS IRAQ OF POTENTIAL ISRAELI STRIKE AGAINST PRO-IRANIAN MILITIAS 💥 Israel launched a powerful airstrike on Palmyra in Homs' countryside, killing over 36 Syrian officers, including a brigadier general, and injuring more than 50 others. Despite previous Israeli warnings, the Assad regime continues to support Hezbollah, prompting these targeted attacks. ‼️ An Iraqi political source informed Sky News Arabic that the Iraqi government strongly believes Israeli retaliatory strikes are imminent. These strikes are expected to target military sites and leaders of specific factions and could occur within hours. 🔹The United States has notified the Iraqi government that it has exhausted diplomatic efforts to dissuade Israel from potentially launching an attack on Iraqi territory targeting pro-Iranian militias. In response, Iraq has initiated precautionary measures to prepare for such an event. Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani has briefed political factions regarding the situation, according to Al-Hadath. 🔹Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani instructed the army to take decisive measures against any military operations outside the state’s control. He emphasized the need to pursue violators and directed the preparation of emergency plans to ensure national security, as reported by Al Hadath.