As tensions over trade, Taiwan, technology, and global influence intensify, the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping may determine the future balance of power between Washington and Beijing. By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Sulaimani, Iraq | 13 May 2026 — Kurdish Policy Analysis "We don't have permanent allies and we don't have permanent enemies, only our interests are permanent, and we have to follow them." – Henry John Temple. The root of the current Strait of Hormuz tensions is not only about shipping routes or oil prices, but also about the final collapse of the historical US concept towards Beijing. However, the 2025 National Security Strategy, released by the White House in November, says this was a historic mistake because China used the assets it accumulated to strengthen itself and compete with the West, not to become their partner. For many years, the United States alone maintained maritime security; The fifth US ship in Manama, Bahrain, worked only to keep o...
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
Iraq’s “Golden Era” Shattered: How the U.S.-Israel-Iran War is Dragging a Stable Nation Back into Chaos
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
Erbil, Kurdistan, March 24– Iraq’s fragile peace, built over years of post-ISIS recovery, is rapidly unraveling as a direct U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran forces the country back into the crosshairs of a regional conflagration.
The escalation reached a critical point late Tuesday when Iranian-allied Shiite militias launched a major assault on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad—the most significant attack on the diplomatic mission in years. Concurrently, missiles and drones targeted locations in the capital and
Erbil
, the seat of the Kurdish regional government, marking a "worst-case scenario" for Iraqi leaders who had spent the last year championing a unified national identity.
For nearly two decades, Iraq has served as a primary theater for proxy warfare. However, the recent outbreak of full-scale hostilities between a U.S.-Israeli coalition and Tehran has uniquely threatened Iraq’s nascent stability. Between late January and March 2026, coalition forces executed precision airstrikes on key sites belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), resulting in at least 10 casualties.
"This is not our war," has become a common refrain in Erbil and Baghdad, yet the geographical and political reality offers little escape. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of pro-Tehran factions, claimed 67 drone and missile strikes in just the first three days of the wider war, targeting U.S. assets at Harir military base and Erbil International Airport.
The violence is re-igniting internal fissures. While a secular, national identity had been gaining ground among Iraq’s Shiite majority and Sunni and Kurdish minorities, the current strikes are "tugging at the divides" that once fueled civil strife. The U.S. State Department has already ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel from Iraq, citing the high risk of violence and kidnapping by anti-U.S. militias.
As the Pentagon continues its air campaign—which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insists is "not another Iraq" style 20-year war—the Iraqi government faces an existential challenge: preventing its sovereign territory from becoming the final battleground for its most powerful allies and its closest neighbor.
The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has transformed the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) into a primary front for proxy warfare, resulting in significant security, economic, and political destabilization. Iranian-backed strikes on Erbil, along with halted energy production, have severely impacted regional infrastructure, while the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has issued high-level security alerts regarding the situation.
A recent report argues that the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict is destroying Iraq's fragile stability, reversing post-ISIS progress by turning the nation into a proxy battleground and threatening its economic, sovereignty. This intensifying regional war is undermining a previously emerging national identity and directly endangering both Baghdad and the Kurdistan region.
Reporting from the BBC and The Christian Science Monitor argues that Iraq's recent stability is being dismantled as the nation is drawn into the 2026 U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. The analysis contends that regional tensions have reignited sectarian divisions, with Iranian-backed militias utilizing Iraqi territory to pressure U.S. forces and destabilize the Kurdistan region.
The "best" solution for Iraq is a complex, multi-layered approach aimed at achieving "smart interdependence" and sovereign stability. According to recent 2026 expert analyses and government strategies, the solution involves four key pillars:
1. Enforcing a "Monopoly on Violence"
The most critical internal step is confining weapons exclusively to state authority.
Integration or Exit: Prime Minister Sudani has outlined two paths for armed factions: fully joining the official security structure or transitioning entirely into the political system.
Phased Disarmament: The Interior Ministry is implementing a city-by-city plan in 2026 to remove unlicensed weapons and transfer urban security from the army to the Iraqi Police.
Soft Power Mitigation: Some analysts suggest "delegitimizing" militias by highlighting their inefficiencies rather than using direct military force, which often bolsters their popular support.
2. Strategic Neutrality (The "Iraq First" Strategy)
To avoid being a battlefield for the U.S., Israel, and Iran, Iraq is pursuing a policy of "multi-layered fortification".
Diplomatic Shield: Iraq is actively mediating regional crises and reinforcing its constitutional commitment to prevent its land from being used for attacks on neighbors.
Sovereignty Milestones: 2026 is viewed as a pivotal year for Iraq to transition from a "state of dependency" to a sovereign regional mediator.
Iraq is projected to lead Arab economic growth in 2026 at 6.7%, providing a unique window for reform.
Energy as Diplomacy: Rather than a source of conflict, energy is being treated as a "shared national service" between Baghdad and Erbil to improve welfare in both Basra and Kurdistan.
Gas Sovereignty: Prioritizing domestic gas capture to reduce dependency on foreign imports, specifically through the GGIP (Gas Growth Integrated Project).
4. Strengthening Governance and Social Cohesion
Stabilization requires rebuilding trust in public institutions.
Durable Solutions for IDPs: Shifting from emergency aid to long-term integration for the millions of displaced Iraqis still living in informal sites.
The current conflict in March 2026, often referred to as the Second Iran War, has significantly impacted Iraq as it has become a central arena for retaliatory strikes between Iran, its aligned militias, and U.S.-Israeli forces.
Iran Drops “Lord of the Straits” Animation — A Chilling Signal Over Hormuz Control March 23, 2026 Iranian state-affiliated media outlets have released a stylized animation titled “Lord of the Straits,” centered on the strategic Strait of Hormuz , as tensions in the region continue to escalate. The animation, which has circulated widely on social media, depicts a dramatized narrative emphasizing Iran’s control and influence over the narrow maritime passage, a critical artery for global oil shipments. While the video does not include official military statements, analysts say its messaging aligns with Tehran’s broader strategic signaling amid the ongoing confrontation involving the United States and its allies. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil trade, making any perceived threat to its security a major concern for global energy markets. Recent weeks have seen heightened rhetoric from multiple sides, including warnings over potential di...
Godzilla escorts an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz in a viral meme capturing the chaos of rising global tensions in 2026 Japan Deploys Legendary Asset to Secure Strait of Hormuz: Godzilla Now on Escort Duty As tensions surge in the Strait of Hormuz —a critical artery for nearly 20% of global oil—an unexpected viral moment has taken over the internet: Japan has “deployed” Godzilla . What started as a joke is now one of the most shared reactions to a rapidly escalating geopolitical crisis in 2026. Why This Matters The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of global oil Any disruption impacts fuel prices worldwide Escalation could affect Iraq, Kurdistan, and global markets In a move that has stunned military analysts and delighted meme lords everywhere, Japan has apparently answered the call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz —by sending its most fearsome maritime guardian straight from the silver screen. A now-viral image shows the King of the Mo...
ANALYSIS — Last-ditch diplomacy tests limits as U.S.–Iran war nears escalation point. Backchannel diplomacy scrambles for a 45-day pause as threats escalate and the fate of the region hangs on a rapidly closing window. Kurdish Policy Analysis , April 6 (Analysis) — A flurry of high-stakes diplomacy aimed at halting the U.S.–Iran war has emerged as what officials describe as a “last realistic opportunity” to prevent a far wider regional conflict, even as military threats intensify and timelines compress. At the center of the effort is a proposed 45-day ceasefire , structured as a two-phase process: an initial pause in hostilities followed by negotiations toward a permanent settlement . A narrow diplomatic window The urgency reflects a rapidly closing window. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a deadline—extended slightly to Tuesday evening— warning of major strikes if Iran fails to meet key demands, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz , a vital artery for glo...
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment