Iraq Trapped in Escalating US-Iran Proxy War Amid Spiraling Violence

• Iraq is once again a proxy battleground as US-Iran tensions escalate into open military exchanges, with violence spilling across its borders.
• A shepherd's sighting of "foreign forces" near the Saudi border led to an attack on an Iraqi patrol, triggering Baghdad's condemnation.
• US confirms operations in Iraq against Iran-aligned groups, citing self-defense, despite Iraqi casualties and Baghdad's difficulty crediting the distinction.
• The crisis roots back to the 2003 US invasion, reigniting after recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran, making Iraq a central arena for rivalry.
• Tehran-backed Shia militias have launched numerous rocket and drone attacks on US facilities, including the Baghdad embassy and Erbil air base, and targets like oil installations and hotels.