By Saadula Aqrawi
It’s really clear that the war between Israel and Iran marked a historic and dangerous escalation in Middle Eastern tensions. What had been a decades-long shadow war of covert operations, cyber-attacks, and proxy conflicts erupted into open warfare, drawing in various regional actors and destabilizing neighboring countries. Iraq long a geopolitical battleground between regional powers was once again caught in the middle, while the Kurdistan Region found itself directly exposed to the consequences of this high stakes confrontation. The war, though relatively short-lived (lasting just under two weeks), was intense and dangerous. Israel used precision airpower and cyber warfare to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, while Iran unleashed a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities and U.S. military bases in the region.
Yes, Iraq’s territory once again became a proxy battlefield without its full consent or control. The central government in Baghdad found itself unable to control the actions of powerful militias or prevent foreign forces from using Iraqi land and airspace. It also struggled to mediate a neutral position, as different political factions aligned themselves with either Tehran or Washington. The war also re-energized political polarization in Baghdad, pro-Iran factions in Parliament pushed for the expulsion of U.S. troops, while moderate and nationalist groups warned that doing so would leave Iraq further exposed to Iranian dominance. The Israel-Iran conflict dealt a heavy blow to Iraq’s already struggling economy. Global oil prices surged temporarily, but infrastructure insecurity in southern Iraq disrupted oil production and transportation. Also the Kurdistan’s independent oil exports via Turkey faced delays and political pressure, particularly as Baghdad sought to centralize control over resources during the crisis.
Iraq’s failure to remain neutral or assert its sovereignty revealed deeper structural weaknesses. The war exposed the extent of Iran’s influence in Iraqi politics and security, forcing renewed calls both domestically and internationally for Iraq to reassert state control over militias and armed actors.
Yes of course in Iraq, the war had domestic political fallout. In Iraq, nationalist voices gained traction, calling for reforms to reduce dependence on either Iran or the U.S.
In the Kurdistan Region, there were renewed calls for greater Kurdish unity and a comprehensive regional security policy. I believe that the Israel-Iran War was a stark reminder of how deeply interconnected the Middle East’s conflicts have become and how fragile the sovereignty of states like Iraq truly is. While Iraq tried to stay out of the confrontation, its divided political system, foreign military presence, and regional entanglements made neutrality impossible. The Kurdistan Region, once seen as a bastion of stability, Its strategic alliances with the U.S. and Western nations may have protected it diplomatically but exposed it to military and political retaliation For Iraq and the KRG, the aftermath of the war presents both a challenge and an opportunity, to rebuild a national security strategy that preserves sovereignty, strengthens internal governance, and avoids becoming collateral in the battles of more powerful neighbors.