Israeli invasion of Lebanon would be a 'disaster', Iraqi Foreign Minister says

Fuad Hussein says 'there are many questions' about the current US political situation

Iraq's ambassador to the US Nazar Al Khirullah, left, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speak to reporters at the Iraqi embassy in Washington. Thomas Watkins / The National

An Israeli incursion into Lebanon would be a “disaster” and would present a double standard for Israel's backers who have criticised Russia for invading Ukraine, Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on Friday.

Dr Hussein, who was visiting Washington for this week's Nato summit, also said he had been lobbying western nations to increase pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza.

His comments come amid high tension along the Israel-Lebanon border, where Hezbollah and the Israeli military have been engaged in an escalating series of strikes in a high-stakes exchange that could result in all-out war between the neighbours.

Hezbollah ramped up operations at the border immediately after its ally Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 in a bid to divert Israel's military focus from the Gaza Strip.

Dr Hussein said many of the conversations at Nato focused on condemning Russia for attacking Ukraine but there was less attention on the possibility Israel might invade Lebanon.

The Israeli war cabinet has approved an operational plan for a military offensive on Lebanon, with officials aiming to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River.

“So imagine that the Israelis are going to attack Lebanon. What are you going to say?” he told reporters at the Iraqi embassy.

Israel's backers are either going “to keep quiet or … support the other side”.

“It would be a disaster for the world. That is also a violation of international law,” he said.

“If we are accepting the principle [of sovereignty] somewhere, it must be valid somewhere else.”

Dr Hussein said he had spoken to western diplomats, particularly those from the US, this week to ask them to do more to compel Israel to end the war in Gaza.

“We are trying to approach our colleagues in the West so that they can put more pressure on the Israeli side,” he said.

The Foreign Minister also gave an update on the plan for US forces to leave Iraq, where they have been leading a counter-ISIS mission since 2014.

The Iraqi government wants the US military out of the country and talks are taking place to cement a timetable.

Dr Hussein said negotiations to “reshape” the US-Iraq relationship are ongoing, and an Iraqi delegation is expected to come to Washington on July 22 for the next stage of talks.

On Iraq's economy, Dr Hussein repeated a long-standing Iraqi desire for US firms to invest more in Iraq, particularly in the energy sector, saying they are taking too long to do so. China and India are now the biggest markets for oil exports.

“The problem with the American companies, the whole decision process [about whether to invest] takes such a long time,” he said.

Asked about the political situation in the US, where it remains unclear whether President Joe Biden will become the Democratic nominee, Dr Hussein said he was in “wait and see” mode.

“Yesterday, I met various individuals from Washington and I was asking them, 'Can you tell me what's going on here?' There are many questions,” he said.