Iraq urges UN action over Israeli airspace breach to strike Iran, closes Green Zone amid escalating tensions

The Iraqi government has condemned what it described as a "Zionist aggression" against the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council and warning of the grave consequences of military escalation in the region.

In a statement on Friday, government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi said, "The Government of the Republic of Iraq condemns in the strongest terms the military assault carried out by the Zionist entity on Iranian territory. This constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter and represents a threat to international peace and security, particularly as it occurred during ongoing US-Iran negotiations."

"The international community must not remain a bystander in the face of this flagrant breach of international law. Resorting to the logic of force to impose new realities threatens to unravel the foundations of modern international relations," Al-Awadi warned.

He stressed that verbal condemnation was no longer sufficient, urging world powers to adopt "deterrent and practical" measures. "The Iraqi government calls on the UN Security Council to convene immediately, take firm and tangible action to deter this aggression, prevent its recurrence, and uphold the credibility of the international legal system," he said.

"If existing mechanisms prove incapable of fulfilling this role," Al-Awadi added, "then the international community must begin a serious dialogue on establishing alternative frameworks that guarantee accountability, enforce justice, and protect global peace."

In a related move, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said it had submitted a formal complaint to the UN Security Council over Israeli violations of Iraqi airspace. The ministry said, "The Republic of Iraq has submitted an official complaint to the UN Security Council, condemning in the strongest terms the Zionist entity’s violation of Iraqi airspace, which was used to carry out military attacks in the region."

The statement described the Israeli overflights as "a grave breach of Iraq's sovereignty and a violation of international law and the UN Charter" and called on the Security Council to "assume its legal and moral responsibilities" by preventing further violations and helping maintain regional stability.

In response to the mounting regional tensions, Iraqi authorities on Friday ordered the closure of Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone—home to government buildings and foreign embassies, including the US mission. The closure was described as a precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding public security amid concerns that the Iran-Israel conflict could spread beyond their borders and destabilise neighbouring states.

The Presidency of the Kurdistan Region also condemned the Israeli strike, warning that resorting to force would only fuel instability. "Confrontation and military operations will exacerbate the situation. At this critical moment, the international community must respond swiftly and urgently and prevent any further escalation of the tensions," the presidency said in a statement.

Speaking to The New Arab, Iraqi political and security analyst Ghani Al-Ghadban said, "As for the strike that Israel carried out on nuclear sites, some ballistic missile bases, and the targeting of certain top-tier Iranian leaders—the Iranians, in fact, expected this, and they were sensing it. Israel had repeatedly threatened to do so, especially given that Iran had recently raised its rhetoric and rejected all proposals put forward by the American side."

He noted that Washington had distanced itself from the attack, "The United States in particular has declared that it is uninvolved in the strike and had no role in it. It did not support Israel in carrying it out. Since the US has now announced that it is taking a neutral stance and still seeks to continue negotiations with Iran, this implies that the armed factions inside Iraq will remain silent."

"United States of America," Al-Ghadban said. "If the US were to intervene and openly support Israel, and launch strikes deep into Iran—whether through aircraft, missiles, spies, or drones—then we will target American interests and citizens, whether in Iraq or in neighbouring regions near the republic’s geographical borders."

When asked whether Iran-aligned militias in Iraq were likely to retaliate against US forces stationed in the country, he replied: "I don't think so. If the armed factions do not carry out any specific action against Israel or against American interests—and as long as the matter remains limited to verbal threats—I don't believe Israel will take such an initiative. Firstly, because of that, and secondly, because Israel is being deterred by the American side, which completely rejects any Israeli strike inside Iraqi territory."

Iraqi politicians and observers have called on Iraqi authorities to distance the country from any new conflict.

Shia cleric and head of the Shiite National Movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, condemned the Israeli attacks on Iran and the use of Iraqi airspace for these strikes in a post on the X platform. He also emphasised the importance of keeping Iraq away from any fresh regional war.