Iraq’s government refuted recent reports of a Houthi presence in Baghdad, notably that the Yemeni group maintained operational offices in the Iraqi capital.
London’s Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper recently claimed that the Houthis vacated offices in Baghdad after warnings from Iran aimed at preventing escalation with the United States.
Asharq Al-Awsat cited sources asserting that Esmail Qaani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, urged Iraqi militia leaders to refrain from any provocative actions, warning that US airstrikes targeting Houthi positions could quickly expand to Iraq.
The initial report suggested the Houthis had closed their primary office in a central Baghdad neighbourhood, with two additional locations expected to shut down soon, due to pressure from Iraq’s Coordination Framework coalition.
However, Iraqi authorities maintain there is no such Houthi presence or activity exists in Baghdad. Last Thursday, Iraq’s Security Media Cell issued a firm denial of reports alleging that the Houthis were using a training camp in Diyala province.
Iraqi analyst Ahmad Al-Khudir told The New Arab that Iraqi factions understand the severe risks associated with provoking US forces amid the current regional tensions involving attacks on Yemen, Gaza, and Syria.
Al-Khudr noted the efforts of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s government in ensuring stability and avoiding actions that could harm Iraq’s diplomatic relations, particularly with Western countries and the US.
Separately, former Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s recent visit to Sana’a, Yemen, generated considerable debate. Officially attending the Third International Conference on “Palestine: Central Cause of the Nation,” Abdul-Mahdi’s interactions with senior Houthi leaders sparked speculation about his mission.
Former government adviser Ibrahim Al-Sumaidaie remarked online that Abdul-Mahdi might have served as an intermediary between the US and Houthis. Conversely, former intelligence official Salem Al-Jumaili contested this theory, arguing in a post on X that Oman would be a more credible intermediary, and proposed that Abdul-Mahdi, who holds French citizenship, could likely have been acting on behalf of France to explore diplomatic avenues with the Houthis.
US airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthis pounded sites across the country into Monday, with the group saying the one attack in the capital killed at least one person and wounded more than a dozen others.
The American strikes entered its 10th day without a sign of stopping, part of a campaign by US President Donald Trump targeting the rebel group that threatens maritime trade and Israel while also trying to pressure Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor.
The campaign of airstrikes targeting the rebels, which killed at least 53 people immediately after they began on 15 March, started after the Houthis threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip.
