Iraq’s Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi told the state-run media outlet Al Mada that he, along with the Army Chief of Staff, the Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, the Assistant for Operations, and the Director of Military Intelligence, held a call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, arranged through the Chargé d’Affaires in Baghdad.

According to Abbasi, Hegseth informed them of “imminent military operations” in the region — potentially involving U.S. and Israeli action against Iran — and warned Iraqi military leaders of the consequences should Iranian-backed factions in Iraq become involved in any such conflict.