The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, directed all security agencies to prevent and pursue any military activity outside the state’s control, following Israeli threats to target Iraq .
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Yahya Rasool, said in a statement: “Al-Sudani chaired an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security today, Tuesday, during which developments in the security situation at the regional and international levels were discussed .”
The statement added that “the Ministerial Council for National Security stressed during the meeting Iraq’s categorical rejection of the complaint issued by the Zionist entity’s authorities and directed against Iraq,” stressing that “these accusations are nothing more than pretexts aimed at justifying a planned aggression against Iraq by those authorities, within the framework of a new step aimed at expanding the scope of the regional conflict .”
He explained that “the Council renewed the position of the Iraqi government, which it had previously announced repeatedly, that the decision of peace and war is the sole responsibility of the Iraqi government, and that it is continuing its measures to prevent the use of Iraqi territory to launch any attack, and that it has already resulted in the seizure of weapons prepared for launch, and that it is legally pursuing anyone who participates in such activities that threaten the security of Iraq and the safety of its territory .”
He continued: “The government also believes that Iraq has a fundamental role in standing by its brothers from the countries that have been attacked, within the legal and moral duty to provide humanitarian, political and legal support, and to work to curb the authorities of the occupying entity, and to stop the aggression through international efforts, in light of the entity’s authorities continuing to violate the resolutions of the UN Security Council, calling for respect for the sovereignty of states, commitment to international law and the cessation of military activities .”
He pointed out that “the recent allegations and actions of the entity’s authorities constitute a dangerous escalation and an attempt to manipulate international public opinion to justify aggression, undermine efforts to maintain peace and security, and increase the risk of expanding the scope of the conflict in the region .”
He added, “Iraq affirms its commitment to international law and the United Nations Charter, and strongly condemns the threats of the entity’s authorities, which aim to destabilize the region, and calls on all active parties to reject escalation, give priority to dialogue and adhere to the principles of international law .”
He added, “In light of these developments, the National Security Ministerial Council approved the following :
1 – Directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow up on the file in international and UN forums and before the United Nations bodies, and to take all necessary steps, in accordance with the principles of international law, to preserve Iraq’s rights and deter the entity’s aggressive threats .
2 – Calling on the Arab League to take a firm and unified position against the threats of the occupying entity’s authorities, including practical measures based on unity of destiny and common defense .
3 – Requesting the UN Security Council to consider the complaints submitted by the Republic of Iraq ( complaint No. ABM/1/185 dated 8/14/2024, and the complaints submitted in October 2024 ) against the authorities of the occupying entity, and to take deterrent measures to ensure the achievement of regional and international stability and peace .
4 – Calling on the UN Security Council to take immediate and deterrent measures against the occupying entity’s authorities, and to hold them accountable for their violations of international law and UN Security Council resolutions .
5 – Issuing a resolution under Chapter VII for an immediate ceasefire throughout the region, moving decisively to stop hostilities, and preventing any party from launching aggressive actions or justifying them through flimsy accusations .
6 – The United States of America, through security and military dialogues within the framework of the third section of the Strategic Framework Agreement, will take effective steps to deter the authorities of the occupying entity. It also calls on the international coalition and its member states to curb these threats and limit the expansion of the war .
According to the statement, Major General Rasool stressed that “the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces directed a number of security measures, most notably :
1 – Our armed forces and all security agencies shall prevent and pursue any military activity outside the framework of state control .
2 – The Ministry of Interior shall activate the directives issued by previous meetings, prepare emergency plans commensurate with the size of the threat, and secure full precautions for security requirements .
3 – Strengthening the western Iraqi borders through intensive activity, rapid deployment, and developing the necessary plans, and working to prepare and ensure an effective security depth .
4 – The Air Defense Command shall provide the requirements for air protection of the skies of Iraq, and for vital, effective and important targets internally .
5 – Field commanders bear responsibility for any security breach within the area of responsibility that could endanger the country’s security .
6 – Intelligence agencies shall analyze, monitor, and follow up on any hostile air activity or ground targeting, pursue those who launch it, and submit immediate intelligence reports on everything that falls within their work and intelligence specialization .
