Following a strongly worded warning from Washington, Iraqi pressure led to the suspension of attacks on the US embassy.
Informed Iraqi sources revealed on Thursday that the decision by armed factions to stop targeting the US embassy in Baghdad came as a result of intense political, governmental and judicial pressure, as well as strongly worded warning messages from Washington, coinciding with escalating security tensions in the region.
Sources told Shafaq News Agency that the past two days have witnessed extensive moves by political actors aimed at containing the escalation and preventing the country from sliding into wider tension that could negatively affect internal stability, especially in light of the sensitive economic conditions.
The sources explained that government and political leaders exerted direct and indirect pressure on the leaders of the factions, warning of the danger of continuing missile or drone attacks, as they represent a threat to national security and the country’s sovereignty.
She also pointed out that the judicial institution entered the crisis by threatening legal action and prosecutions against those involved, which contributed significantly to pushing the parties towards de-escalation.
The sources revealed that the American side conveyed, through official channels, “firm” messages that included a threat of escalation options if the attacks continued.
She stressed that the current lull comes within the framework of unannounced understandings aimed at reducing tension and preventing Iraq from becoming an arena for international conflicts, which is a top priority for state institutions at the present stage.
This escalation comes at a time when Kataib Hezbollah, on Wednesday, set a number of conditions for suspending attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad for five days.
The security official of the brigades, “Abu Mujahid al-Assaf”, summarized these conditions as follows: that Israel stop the displacement and bombing of the southern suburbs of Beirut, and that the United States commit to not bombing residential areas in Baghdad and the provinces, while withdrawing “CIA elements” from the vicinity of the embassy and keeping them inside it, with the exception of (the Kurdistan Region).
Since the outbreak of the American-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, the American embassy, diplomatic mission headquarters, and vital facilities housing foreigners from other countries in Iraq, including the Kurdistan region, have been subjected to attacks by drones and missiles, causing serious material damage and sometimes human casualties.
Shafaq.com