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In a significant development, Iraqi militias have announced their intentions to collaborate with Iran in response to an attack on Iranian military infrastructure by Israel. This comes after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised a "crushing response" to the Israeli assault that occurred on October 26.

Haidar al-Lami, a prominent member of the political bureau of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Iraqi militia group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, revealed in an interview with the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar that plans are being meticulously coordinated with Iran. Al-Lami stated that the timing and location of the retaliatory strike against Israel are being organized in full cooperation with Iran. He asserted that "the Islamic Republic has the right to target the Zionist entity from anywhere within Iraq."

Al-Lami also indicated that the militia's operations have been ongoing and targeting critical infrastructure within Israel. He warned that future strikes would employ more advanced weaponry, anticipating an escalation in the conflict. Another unnamed official supported this stance, emphasizing Iran's capability to retaliate from various locations and its determination to respond effectively.

This disclosure follows Khamenei's vow of a decisive retaliation in response to the Israeli attack. According to a senior Israeli official cited by The Washington Post, an Iranian counterattack is anticipated in the coming days. Al-Lami underscored that the Israeli airstrike on Iranian targets violated international norms and Iraqi airspace, implicating the United States in these actions. He suggested that direct military action has become the only viable response, with diplomatic efforts proving futile.

Reports from Axios suggest that Iran might execute its counterstrike from Iraqi territory, potentially utilizing a considerable number of drones and ballistic missiles. This possible action could occur before the US presidential elections on November 5. The expectation of an Iraqi launch is rooted in the close ties between Iran and armed factions within Iraq, which have developed the capability to strike targets deep within Israel.

Meanwhile, officials in the Iraqi government are apprehensive about the potential escalation given Iraq's lack of diplomatic relations with Israel. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's administration is particularly anxious about the ramifications of widening regional conflicts on its relationships with both the US and Iran. Despite this, the Kataib Hezbollah and Nujaba groups, which are spearheading the assaults on Israel, have cautioned the Iraqi prime minister against pressuring them to desist from their actions.

An unnamed official in Al-Akhbar's report remarked that if Iran were to launch its retaliation from Iraqi soil, it would present a serious dilemma for the Iraqi government. Such an action could broaden the conflict significantly, giving Israel a pretext to target sites within Iraq. The official stressed that any response from Iraq would necessitate coordination with and notification to the Iraqi government, which is keen to maintain peace rather than incite war.