Baghdad, Iraq | June 18, 2025 —
Tensions in the Middle East took a symbolic turn on Tuesday as hundreds of pro-Iran supporters gathered in the heart of Baghdad, Iraq, burning Israeli flags and raising portraits of slain Iranian military commanders in a defiant show of solidarity with Tehran.
The rally, held in Tahrir Square, came amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran, following a series of deadly retaliatory strikes exchanged between the two regional powers. Protesters, many of them aligned with Iran-backed militia groups, chanted anti-Israel slogans and carried banners denouncing Israeli airstrikes on Iranian soil, which reportedly targeted intelligence facilities and strategic military assets.
Among the images prominently displayed were those of General Qassem Soleimani, the late commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Iraqi paramilitary leader, both killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in 2020. Their portraits have become potent symbols of resistance for Iran-aligned movements across the region.
Security presence was noticeable at the event, though the demonstration proceeded largely without incident. Organisers described the rally as a message to both Israel and its Western allies that “the axis of resistance” remains strong and unified.
The protest underscores Iraq’s fragile position in the ongoing Middle East tensions, as various Iran-backed armed groups within its borders have openly pledged allegiance to Tehran. Analysts warn that any further escalation between Israel and Iran could spill into Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon—drawing in militia groups and possibly igniting a broader regional confrontation.
International observers, including the United Nations, have called for restraint from both sides, warning that continued military exchanges risk triggering a humanitarian crisis and destabilising already volatile parts of the Middle East.
As of press time, neither the Israeli government nor the Iranian regime had officially responded to the Baghdad protest. However, with emotions running high and political loyalties hardening across borders, the prospects of a diplomatic de-escalation appear increasingly slim.
