Washington alerted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to a potential U.S. strike on Iran in the coming days, Channel 8 reported, citing a political source close to the Coordination Framework coalition. * Intervention warning: Al-Zaidi warned Iraqi armed groups of legal consequences if they intervene. The Cradle separately reported, citing Iraqi officials, that Washington warned involvement could threaten Iraq’s political system and state stability. * Disarmament impasse: Nujaba and Kata’ib Hezbollah still refuse to surrender their weapons despite an agreement reached before September 30, the source said. Al-Zaidi rejected a compromise allowing groups to retain missiles and drones under government supervision. * Political friction: The source said the Coordination Framework backs the government and wants to avoid another conflict. Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri nevertheless expressed reservations about al-Zaidi’s warning. * Iran border: Channel 8 linked the al-Shib crossing’s closure partly to concerns about returning “shadow groups” of 5–10 people suspected of conducting difficult-to-trace attacks. The government had cited technical reasons. 23-OCT-2026 11:48 AM ET