Iraq’s governing coalition issued a strong statement on Wednesday emphasizing the need to keep Iraq free from regional conflicts, as tensions rise in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. The State Administration Coalition, an alliance of Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish political parties, dismissed recent claims that Iraq was being used as a launch point for attacks on Israel.

In a statement after a meeting in Baghdad, the coalition refuted reports about Iraq’s territory being used for attacks, calling them “fake justifications to legitimize the aggression on Iraq’s land and sovereignty.” The coalition's message underscored the importance of “keeping Iraqi territory away from the atmosphere of war,” while reaffirming Iraq's support for Palestine in the conflict.

The coalition, which successfully navigated Iraq’s year-long political deadlock to bring Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to power in 2022, reiterated its backing for the Palestinian cause and condemned Israel for “seeking to expand [the war] and dragging the region into it with the aim of destabilizing security and stability.”

While Iraq has primarily provided humanitarian support, its pro-Iran militia groups have reportedly carried out drone and rocket attacks on Israel. Last month, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a shadow militia group linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—claimed responsibility for attacks on “vital targets” in the occupied Golan Heights, promising further escalation. Additionally, in October, an Israeli military base in the Golan Heights was struck by a suicide drone from Iraq, resulting in two Israeli soldiers’ deaths and injuring 24 others.

The continued involvement of these militia groups has sparked concerns over Iraq potentially being drawn deeper into the conflict, a scenario Iraqi officials are striving to avoid. Iraqi leaders have also demonstrated solidarity with Lebanon, accepting thousands of Lebanese citizens displaced by the conflict as “guests of Iraq.”

Amid these challenges, the State Administration Coalition has reaffirmed its commitment to Iraq’s sovereignty and regional stability, urging all parties to respect Iraq’s neutral stance and keep the country away from regional hostilities.