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.

Israel’s campaign, militarily and rhetorically, has quickly evolved beyond its initial targets. Over the weekend, it hit Iran’s energy facilities, including a gas depot and an oil refinery, triggering huge fires and spewing smoke across the sprawling capital of about ten million people.

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

Gen. Amos Yadlin, former IDF intel chief, told Fox News Digital Israel’s attack on Iran was the result of intelligence gathering that dates back decades.

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'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.

Iran and Israel have launched a fresh wave of attacks on each other in a development that continues to raise fears of the wider region being plunged into a destabilising conflict. Iranian missiles struck Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa shortly before dawn on Monday,

Salami was killed in the first Israeli strikes, along with other key commanders. Although Iran replaced the commanders quickly, it took hours for it to get its ballistic missiles ready for launch. Over the last four days, Iran has much of its missile arsenal and the launchers needed to fire them.