The escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran has cast a shadow over the Iraqi arena, revealing mounting security challenges amid repeated drone and missile attacks on strategic locations, most recently targeting the city of Erbil. This escalation places
Baghdad in a highly complex position, particularly given its political openness towards Washington and the conclusion of security and economic agreements, juxtaposed with its efforts to maintain territorial sovereignty and restrict arms to state control. Strategic researchers argue that recent
attacks cannot be detached from the context of mutual messaging between the conflicting powers, which attempt to signal their proximity to the brink of an all-out war, potentially rendering Iraq an arena for settling regional and international scores.
