Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Are Not Part of the ‘Axis of Resistance’

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)
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Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Are Not Part of the ‘Axis of Resistance’

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)

A day after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that Iran does not have proxies in the region, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein declared that Baghdad is not part of what is known as the “Axis of Resistance.”

Hussein’s statement aligns with similar calls from Iraqi political leaders urging the country to avoid becoming entangled in the ongoing regional escalation. His remarks come amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, fueled by renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Gaza and the resurgence of Houthi threats to Red Sea shipping lanes.

In a televised interview, Hussein asserted: “Iraq is not part of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ and does not believe in the concept of ‘unified battlefronts.’ We only recognize the Iraqi battlefield.”

He emphasized that Iraq’s constitution prohibits armed groups operating outside official military institutions and does not allow unilateral decisions to engage in war.

He also criticized the actions of Iraqi armed factions over the past months, stating that their involvement has harmed Iraq without benefiting the Palestinian cause. According to Hussein, the recent escalation has forced Iraq to prioritize its national interests, particularly after receiving direct threats from the US administration.

The foreign minister suggested that there is still room for dialogue with armed factions to prevent Iraq from becoming a target of potential military strikes by external forces such as the US or Israel.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran recently sent a message to Iraqi Shiite faction leaders, instructing them to avoid provoking the US and Israel.

Discussing Iraq’s relationship with the US, Hussein noted a shift in American policy, particularly regarding energy imports from Iran. He revealed that Washington has officially informed Iraq that it will not extend waivers for importing Iranian energy, a decision made clear during a recent meeting in Paris.

The minister warned that Iraq could face a severe electricity crisis in the coming summer if the government does not take urgent action. He urged the Iraqi ministries of electricity and oil to collaborate in finding solutions to mitigate the potential energy shortfall.

Hussein also cautioned that if Iran fails to reach an agreement with the new US administration, it could become a target of an Israeli military strike.

“Such a development would have catastrophic consequences for Iraq and the entire region,” he warned.



8 Turkish Soldiers Killed by Gas Exposure During Cave Search in Northern Iraq

A Turkish soldier waves a flag on Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 28 ,2018. REUTERS/ Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
A Turkish soldier waves a flag on Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 28 ,2018. REUTERS/ Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
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8 Turkish Soldiers Killed by Gas Exposure During Cave Search in Northern Iraq

A Turkish soldier waves a flag on Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 28 ,2018. REUTERS/ Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
A Turkish soldier waves a flag on Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 28 ,2018. REUTERS/ Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

Eight Turkish soldiers died after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in a cave in northern Iraq, the defense ministry said on Monday.

In a statement, the ministry said the incident took place on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a Turkish soldier killed during a military operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Eleven other soldiers who are also exposed to the gas in the cave have been taken to the hospital for treatment, the ministry said.

The cave was at an altitude of 852 meters (2,795 foot) and was known to have been used as a hospital by the PKK in the past, although it had since been cleared by Turkish soldiers.

Türkiye and the PKK have waged a 40-year conflict which has often spilled over into Iraq and Syria. Türkiye has set up a series of bases in northern Iraq, where the PKK has been established for decades.