An Arab country maintaining good relations with both the United States and Iran sent a message to the Iraqi government warning that Baghdad is "extremely close" to a military attack similar to the targeting of Doha in September, Asharq al-Awsat reported via a post shared at 5:42 AM UTC on December 21, 2025. Iraqi state media denied the report. Informed sources revealed to Asharq al-Awsat that the Iraqi government and political actors received two unusual messages during the past two weeks, one from the Arab country and another from a Western intelligence service, as detailed in the report published in the 29-minute window ending at 5:45 AM UTC. The warning emerges amid recent internal Iraqi security actions, including the Popular Mobilization Forces' arrest of Jaish al-Mukhtar leader Wathiq al-Battat earlier on December 21 on charges of insulting security institutions, according to Shafaq News.
