US-Israel Iran War 2026: Why did Iraq become a battlefield?

Tensions are steadily rising in the Middle East. Following military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran , the entire region appears poised to spiral into a major conflict.

In late February 2026, both countries launched surprise airstrikes against several Iranian military and nuclear facilities. These attacks caused significant damage to Iran's missile program and military facilities.

According to reports, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was also killed in the conflict. Iran subsequently launched a series of missile and drone attacks across the Middle East.

Why did Iraq get embroiled in this war?

Although the Iraqi government has clearly stated that it does not want to be a part of this war, circumstances are dragging it into this conflict.

Iraq's head of government, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has repeatedly stated that the country's land will not be allowed to be used for war.

But the situation on the ground is different because:

Thousands of US troops are present in Iraq

Several Iran-backed militia groups are active

The security system is divided into several different groups.

For this reason, Iraq has now become an important front in this major conflict.

Continued attacks on US bases

Iran-backed organizations have carried out several attacks on US bases in Iraq.

These key locations include:

Erbil – Drone attack near US consulate

Baghdad International Airport – Rocket and missile attacks

Ain al‑Asad Airbase – Attack on US military base

Harir Air Base – Drone strikes

The names of groups like Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Kataib Imam Ali have come up in these attacks .

US retaliation

The United States carried out several airstrikes in Iraq in response to the attacks.

According to reports, Iran-backed militias were targeted in Kirkuk province, killing several militia members.

Threats to oil and energy installations

The impact of this conflict is not limited to military bases only.

Attacks now:

oil fields

power plants

Diplomatic complexes

have reached 10. This is also increasing volatility in the global oil market.

conclusion

The growing military tension between Iran, Israel and the United States is now affecting the entire Middle East.

In this conflict, Iraq has become a country which is being affected the most despite not being directly involved in the war.

If the situation remains like this, this crisis can become a bigger threat for the entire region in the future.