Iraq caught in crossfire of Middle East war

AFP / France 24
by FRANCE24
March 19, 2026
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3 min read

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Iraq is caught in the crossfire of the Middle East war with near-daily attacks on US interests by Iran-backed groups.

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Iraq has become a focal point of escalating Middle East tensions following a US-Israel military strike against Iran on February 28. Iran-backed militant groups operating in Iraq have responded with near-daily attacks targeting American interests throughout the country and the broader region. The strikes have intensified a cycle of retaliation that directly threatens Iraq's stability, as the nation hosts thousands of US troops and serves as a critical buffer between rival regional powers. Iraq's government faces mounting pressure to manage both foreign military operations on its soil and the domestic armed groups responding to them. The conflict underscores Iraq's vulnerability to become a proxy battleground in broader US-Iran hostilities.

What's Being Done

Iran-backed groups have claimed near-daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region in response to US-Israel strikes.

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