Iran-backed Iraqi militias claimed responsibility for an attack against Israel that occurred on Monday, coinciding with a confirmed aerial attack on the southern Israeli coastal city of Eilat. This appears to be the first confirmed instance of the Iraqi militias actually hitting Israel from Iraq, despite previous claims of attacks. The attack was carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which has built up a stockpile of long-range drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles with assistance from Tehran.
The Israeli military confirmed that a “suspicious aerial target” originating from Israel’s east hit and lightly damaged a hangar in a naval base in Eilat. Additionally, the IRI claimed to have targeted a Christian village in Israel’s northern Galilee region with a drone launched from Iraq just one day before the Eilat incident. This attack raises concerns about the ability of the IRI to successfully evade air defenses in neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
While the IRI has previously claimed to have launched attacks against various Israeli targets, Israel has not confirmed these claims. The frequency of these attacks by the IRI, approximately 1 or 2 drone attacks per week, suggests that the group wants to show solidarity with Hamas during the current conflict. Despite these attacks being seen as minor, Israel may retaliate only if there are significant casualties or equipment losses.
Iraq, which has a history of resisting becoming a battlefield for external actors like the U.S. and Iran, is now preparing for possible Israeli attacks on its territory amidst the current confrontation. There are concerns that Iraq could become a new target for repeated Israeli strikes without a significant response, similar to what has occurred in Syria. Iraq is currently seeking to purchase more advanced, long-range air defense systems to protect against potential attacks.
Although Israel previously bombed targets belonging to Iran-backed militias in 2019, these strikes were isolated incidents. The ongoing air campaign against Iranian forces and their regional militia allies in Syria has intensified since the start of the current Gaza war. Iraq has been attempting to purchase air defense systems for years, but internal political factions have prevented progress due to preferences for purchasing from specific countries and corruption issues.
Despite the escalating tensions and the potential for further attacks, it is unclear if Israel will respond with military action in Iraq following the recent attacks. The geopolitical complexities of the region, including Iraq’s efforts to acquire advanced air defense systems and the resistance against becoming a target for external actors, add layers of uncertainty to the situation. The incident underscores the ongoing proxy conflicts in the region and the challenges faced by countries like Iraq in navigating these dynamics.
