Iraq denies reports of IRGC secret cells on its territory

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An Iraqi official on Saturday rejected reports that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had established secret cells in Iraq to carry out drone attacks against neighboring Arab states. The official said the allegations deliberately distorted the perception of the Islamic Republic's activities on Iraqi soil and described such accusations against Tehran's regional military presence as baseless and unacceptable. The statement said there was no evidence that Iran-backed militias were conducting independent cross-border operations from Iraq. The official added that Baghdad would not permit its territory to be used to launch attacks against any group or state. The Iraqi government said it remained ready to coordinate with neighboring countries within the framework of respect for sovereignty. The IRGC's role in the region has drawn attention amid a recent rise in drone attacks targeting Gulf states, though the Iraqi official did not directly address specific incidents.