US Strikes in Iraq Can Escalate Gaza War, Expert Says

The United States Central Command has conducted airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, and experts are worried about the potential fallout of war.

The US military struck three sites used by Kataib Hezbollah, a major Iran-aligned terrorist group, in response to attacks against US personnel in the region.

Strikes in Iraq & Syria

The US military’s attack came on the sidelines of an Israeli attack that killed an Iranian top general in Syria.

The Iranian military said it conducted airstrikes targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Brigadier-General Razi Mousavi, a close aide of the former general, Qassem Sulemani.

U.S. CENTCOM conducts strikes against Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group targets in Iraq

In response to multiple attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes against multiple facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups… pic.twitter.com/mmL4WqFXq9

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 26, 2023

Rising Tensions in The Region

Middle East researcher and author Ali Akbar Dareini told Al-Jazeera that the airstrikes could escalate the Gaza war into a regional conflict.

Neither Iran nor the US wants to confront each other, but things could go out of control easily.

“I don’t expect to see an all-out war, but there is always a risk of miscalculations.” he told Al-Jazeera.