"Iraq should not be used as a launch pad for attacks," PM al-Sudani tells US Secretary of State Rubio

The diplomatic exchange occurred as the regional security situation worsened. Almost immediately following the outbreak of the conflict, the skies over Iraq were reportedly saturated with missiles and combat aircraft arriving from multiple trajectories.

During a telephonic discussion with Rubio, Sudani emphasised "the importance of ensuring that Iraqi airspace, territory, and waters are not used for any military action targeting neighbouring countries or the region", the PM''s media office said.

As highlighted by Al Jazeera, the Prime Minister is seeking to insulate Iraq from the broadening violence. The government in Baghdad has remained firm in its stance against the unauthorised use of its sovereign boundaries by foreign military entities.

In his remarks to the US official, Sudani firmly rejected "any attempt to drag the country into ongoing conflicts", while also condemning further "violations of its airspace by any party".

However, despite these diplomatic efforts to maintain neutrality, the conflict has already breached Iraqi borders. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a missile strike on a United States military installation in northern Iraq, according to reports from Al Jazeera.

In a formal statement, the IRGC''s public relations office declared that it hit "the headquarters of the US Army at the Harir Air Base in Erbil, in Iraq''s Kurdistan."

The military wing further specified the scale of the operation, noting that "five missiles were launched against the military site," the statement added.

As highlighted in the Al Jazeera report, this strike represents a significant escalation in the ongoing regional confrontation. The Harir Air Base serves as a vital hub for international coalition forces, making the targeting of the army headquarters a deliberate move against US command capabilities. (ANI)