US and Iraq create joint committee to halt pro-Iran proxy attacks from Iraqi territory

The United States and Iraq announced the creation of a 'High Joint Coordination Committee' to oversee efforts to prevent attacks on US and coalition forces from Iraqi soil. The joint statement commits both sides to 'intensify cooperation to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure that Iraqi territory is not used as a launching point for any aggression against the Iraqi people, the Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi strategic facilities and assets, as well as against US personnel, diplomatic missions, and the Global Coalition.' Since the conflict began on 28 February, pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups — some integrated into Iraq's own security forces — have conducted drone and rocket attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad, the Erbil airport complex, and other US targets in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister has repeatedly sought to keep Iraq out of the conflict, but the deep integration of pro-Iran factions into Iraqi security structures has made enforcement difficult. The creation of a formal joint committee represents a concrete institutional step toward restraining the Iraqi-territory proxy campaign, though its effectiveness will depend on Iraqi political willingness to confront Iran-aligned factions that hold significant government positions.