US – Israeli – Iranian Conflict Disrupts Iraqi Government Formation

US – Israeli – Iranian Conflict Disrupts Iraqi Government Formation

Sherko Habeb, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s office in Cairo, has said that the ongoing US – Israeli – Iranian conflict has disrupted efforts to form Iraq’s new government, warning that prolonged instability could have serious regional and global consequences.

In remarks to the press on Wednesday, Habeb condemned the targeting of the residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, describing it as a “cowardly act” carried out by an unlawful and misguided group. He stressed that the Kurdish leadership does not seek escalation and called on the Iraqi government to prioritise its core responsibilities during the caretaker period – namely, safeguarding internal security and defending the country’s sovereignty.

Conflict and Its Wider Impact

Habeb argued that the primary driver of the current conflict lies in Tehran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities, which Israel considers a direct threat and which has drawn support from the United States. Now in its second month, the conflict risks causing deeper economic disruption if it continues, particularly affecting Middle Eastern countries and the global economy.

Foreign Military Presence

Addressing the issue of foreign military bases, Habeb said their presence in various countries is governed by bilateral agreements and should be regarded as an internal matter for those states. He cited Iraq as an example, where US forces operate under an agreement with the federal government in Baghdad for a محدد period.

Such military and security cooperation, he added, has played a significant role in protecting Iraq from external threats as well as internal dangers, including armed extremist groups.

Habeb rejected the notion that foreign military presence is to blame for Iraq’s struggles, stating: “I do not believe that foreign forces prevented Iraq from progressing; rather, internal divisions have been the principal cause of its difficulties.”

Neutrality and Internal Challenges

He noted that Iraq continues to suffer from the long-term consequences of successive wars and has yet to fully recover. In his view, it is essential for the country to remain neutral and avoid being drawn into a conflict that does not directly concern it.

Habeb said Iraq had been close to announcing the formation of a new government before the outbreak of the conflict. He added that delays in forming the Kurdistan Regional Government were also linked to internal disagreements, particularly the insistence of some Kurdish factions on proceeding without fully reflecting the نتائج of elections in which the Kurdistan Democratic Party emerged victorious.

Escalation Risks and Regional Tensions

Habeb warned that, since the outbreak of the conflict, Iranian forces and affiliated militias have carried out strikes on the Kurdistan Region without justification, in what he described as an attempt to draw Iraq into the confrontation.

He said statements by Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani regarding the number of such attacks were intended to alert the international community that Kurdistan is not a party to the conflict, yet has been unfairly targeted.

Reaffirming his condemnation of the attack on Nechirvan Barzani’s residence, Habeb described it as a clear violation of diplomatic norms, particularly in a region that is not involved in the war. “Whoever carried out this act – whether from الداخل or الخارج – has committed a cowardly aggression aimed at destabilising the region,” he said.

Call for Accountability

Habeb urged the Iraqi government to intensify efforts to identify those responsible and bring them to justice without delay. He emphasised that a key aspect of the current relationship between بغداد and أربيل is a shared commitment not to side with any of the parties involved in the conflict and to prevent Iraq from being drawn into it.

He concluded by attributing the استمرار of attacks on Kurdistan to the presence of internal actors who, he said, continue to hold chauvinistic views against the Kurdish people and oppose genuine political partnership. He accused these groups of resenting the region’s security, stability and developmental progress under its current administration.