Following recent military strikes by US and Saudi forces against militants accused of regional attacks, the Iraqi government has announced a significant shift in its security posture. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has issued formal orders to increase the alertness and readiness of all military camps and bases throughout the country.

According to government spokesperson Sabah al-Numan, these directives apply to all official armed forces, including the Hashed al-Shaabi, a state-sanctioned paramilitary coalition. The government’s stated goal is to bolster air defense capabilities and enhance intelligence-gathering activities to better secure national infrastructure and military sites. While the government framed these measures as a necessary response to regional instability, the move highlights the ongoing tension between Iraq’s efforts to maintain sovereignty and the external military actions occurring within its sphere of influence. The directive emphasizes a need for maximum vigilance across all sectors of the Iraqi security apparatus.