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Baghdad: An attack by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities, with tacit US approval, will lead to a major conflict in Iraq if Tehran chooses to respond by hitting American and Iraqi targets, Iraqi military officers and officials say.
The potential Israeli attack will also lead to a crisis within the Iraqi government, some parts of which are close to Iran, the officials told Gulf News.
A senior officers in the Iraqi army told Gulf News the US forces in Iraq are already taking precautionary measure in a number of military bases across the country in case Israel goes ahead with its threat to attack the Iranian facilities.
"These measures are being organised at Baghdad International Airport, the Al Muthanna base and other military camps in Al Taji, Baghdad and Nasiriyyah," a high ranking officer said, on condition of anonymity.
Another officer, Jabbar Al Yawir, spokesman for the Protection Forces of the Kurdistan Region, told Gulf News, Iran was "certain to attack US and Iraqi forces targets as a reaction in the event of an Israeli attack."
The Iranians might not target Iraqi forces, he added but by trying to attack the US forces they will hit Iraqi targets because in most of the bases there are joint US and Iraqi forces.
There are also concerns over the security fallouts of a possible American-Iranian confrontation.
The possible conflict "could lead to confusion in the security situation inside Iraq and possibly entice some armed groups, Al Qaida in particular, to re-organise themselves and resume terror activities," one official said.
Dhafer Al Aani, a prominent leader of the Sunni-led Accord Front told Gulf News any possible American-Iranian confrontation would lead to a crisis within the Iraqi government.
"The Shiite political parties are likely to be close to the Iranian position," he said.
Amer Al Fayyad, the Dean of the College of Political Science in Baghdad University told Gulf News the Iraqi government would not be a part in any way in the event of an American-Iranian confrontation.
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