Iraq Emerges as New Security Challenge for Israel Amid US Withdrawal
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
A security official has identified Iraq as a new and growing security challenge for Israel following the US withdrawal from the country, which has emboldened Iran and alarmed regional Kurdish populations. The official stated that Iraq will now require increased Israeli intelligence and operational focus, warning that internal Israeli political disputes are a luxury given the circumstances. The article also draws parallels to the US abandonment of Syrian Kurds, suggesting a pattern of unreliable alliances that leaves frontline partners vulnerable to regional adversaries.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Iraq has emerged as a new security challenge for Israel following the US withdrawal, according to a security official.
- The US departure from Iraq is seen as a major gain for Iran and a worrying development for the Kurds.
- A security source indicated that Iraq will now demand more intelligence and operational efforts from Israel.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu previously warned that enemies seek to influence election results by creating security incidents.
- The article criticizes the US for abandoning Kurdish allies in both Syria and Iraq.
- The security official stressed the need for Israeli unity in the face of regional threats.
A security official has warned of a renewed, albeit familiar, threat to Israel originating from Iraq, following the US withdrawal from the country. The official described the US departure as a significant victory for Iran and a cause for deep concern among Kurds. "The Iranians aspire to embrace the Kurds in a bear hug to neutralize them," the source stated, adding that the event serves as a lesson for regional states not to rely on any external powers. When pressed, the official implied this meant not trusting the Americans.
The security source elaborated that Iraq, previously a secondary theater, will now demand greater intelligence and potentially operational efforts from Israel. The article also touches upon internal Israeli politics, suggesting that during election periods, focusing on internal disputes or forming temporary governments is a luxury Israel cannot afford, especially with adversaries interested in influencing election outcomes. Prime Minister Netanyahu was previously quoted as saying that enemies aim to create events that portray a poor security situation, not to disrupt elections but to alter their results, and that Iran desires to harm those in secure meeting places.
The piece further highlights the US's concerning treatment of the Kurds, who have been allies for years, noting this is the second instance of abandonment within a year, the first being in Syria. In Syria, Kurdish forces who fought ISIS on the ground alongside the US were later left vulnerable when President Trump, at the request of Turkish President Erdogan, withdrew American bases. This led to the Kurds making unfavorable agreements with the Syrian regime. Intelligence officials at the time characterized the US move as a signal to attack the Kurds.
Now, the security source asserts, the US abandonment of the Kurds in Iraq, who served as a frontline against Iran and its allied militias, has transformed Iraq into a more active arena for Israel. The article concludes by urging Israelis to unite, stating that internal squabbles are insignificant to adversaries in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Israel itself, who are focused on a single objective.