Iraq caught in crossfire of Middle East war

Iraq has become a focal point of escalating Middle East tensions following a US-Israel military strike against Iran on February 28. Iran-backed militant groups operating in Iraq have responded with near-daily attacks targeting American interests throughout the country and the broader region. The strikes have intensified a cycle of retaliation that directly threatens Iraq's stability, as the nation hosts thousands of US troops and serves as a critical buffer between rival regional powers. Iraq's government faces mounting pressure to manage both foreign military operations on its soil and the domestic armed groups responding to them. The conflict underscores Iraq's vulnerability to become a proxy battleground in broader US-Iran hostilities.