Israel Signals They Could Attack Iraq Over Alleged Iran Missiles

Lieberman: Israel won't limit attacks just to Syria

A Reuters report claiming a small number of Iranian missiles have been sent to Iraq was denied by both Iranian and Iraqi officials as false, but that may not stop Israeli officials from carrying out attacks over that claim.

Israeli officials are signaling that they are prepared to attack Iraq over the alleged sites, with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman saying Israel is “not limiting ourselves just to Syrian territory” with its attacks.

Lieberman didn’t say Israel would definitely attack Iraq, but did say he would “Israel’s freedom is total” in acting against any perceived threat. Iraq has offered no statement on the new comments, but has already insisted they are not hosting any Iranian missiles.

Israel last attacked Iraq in 1981, destroying a nuclear reactor near Baghdad. Israel has been attacking sites inside Syria regularly over the past several years, again generally on claims of an Iranian presence.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.