Iraq was already facing a crisis prior to the Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliation. In May, the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq sent a delegation to Washington to sign energy deals that could be worth up to $110 billion with HKN Energy and WesternZagros.

The aerial war between Israel and Iran has been playing out over the skies of the Levant, prompting concerns in each country about its effects on internal stability and their strategic position.Iraq has condemned the Israeli strikes on Friday that ignited the war.

An explosion occurred in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq on Sunday evening, the third day of the Israel-Iran war. Residents said the explosion was caused by a drone and images appeared to show an object on fire falling from the sky.

Israel and Iran both have little incentive to stop and no obvious route to outright victory. Much depends on President Trump.

Israel and Iran have begun a new round of attacks, as the conflict between the two heavily armed rivals enters its fourth day.

The Iraqi prime minister urged the international community and the United States to play their roles in preventing Israel's assault.

The missile and air war that Israel and Iran have spent decades planning for has come, and it is spectacular and terrifying. Israeli officials say they need at least two weeks to degrade Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

The U.S. State Department issued security alerts on Friday for several Middle Eastern countries, in some cases advising against travel and warning of possible missile attacks after Israel launched military strikes against Iran.

Israel's first open offensive on Iran marks a dramatic turn in a long, complex history. Before Iran's 1979 revolution, the two were close allies, trading arms, oil, and intelligence. The Shah saw Israel as a key partner against Arab rivals.