In Baghdad, pro-Iranian demonstrators gathered in force, burning Israeli flags and displaying portraits of prominent Iranian military commanders who were killed in past conflicts. The rally underscored rising tensions as Israel and Iran continue to exchange deadly strikes.

The atmosphere in the Iraqi capital was charged, with calls intensifying from Iran-aligned factions for the immediate withdrawal of US forces stationed in the country. Their rhetoric has grown sharper following Israel’s surprise attack on Iran last week; a move that has fuelled concerns of a broader regional conflict.

Warnings of a full-scale war in the Middle East are mounting, with Iraq’s militias increasingly seen as potential players in any future escalation.