Concerns are growing among Iraqis that actions by militias could drag their country into the widening conflict between Israel and Lebanon, potentially derailing Iraq's fragile recovery from years of war and instability.

Recent drone attacks on Israel by Iraqi militias and threats of further action have heightened anxieties among a population still grappling with the aftermath of conflicts against Islamic State and the US invasion.

"Entering the war would be madness itself," said Basil, a 40-year-old taxi driver from Salah al-Din, speaking to local media. "We still fear the return of Islamic State. Entering the war would give this organisation a chance to return again," al Mashhad wrote on September 24.

Many Iraqis express concern that involvement in the conflict could jeopardise ongoing reconstruction efforts, disrupt daily life and potentially lead to a resurgence of extremist groups.

Elham, a 44-year-old Arabic language teacher in southern Baghdad, told local media: "War means the end of the educational process, which is still suffering from difficult crises. We are trying to revive the educational process, but wars seem to be chasing us, preventing us from moving forward."

Another Iraqi, Saif al-Azzawi warned that the country's involvement could lead to the collapse of the current political system. "What we will witness in 2025 will be an Iraq different from its predecessor, and foreign interventions in Iraq's affairs will begin if it is drawn into the war against Israel," he said.

The Iraqi government appears to be working to contain the situation. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is conducting talks in New York to prevent the expansion of the war in the region, while Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has emphasised that Iraq is moving internally and externally to prevent the conflict from spreading.

However, the presence of powerful Hezbollah-aligned militias in Iraq, some of which have already claimed attacks on Israel, complicates the government's efforts to maintain neutrality.

Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), also known as the Hashd al-Shaabi, is an official component of the country's security apparatus. In the early hours of April 20, the PMF reported a significant explosion at its Kalso military base, located approximately 50 kilometres south of Baghdad near Babylon earlier in July.

According to two security sources, the base was subjected to an airstrike believed to be from Israel, but neither confirmed nor denied. The large airstrike resulted in the death of one fighter and injuries to six others while also leaving a huge crater in the middle of the base, according to bne IntelliNews investigations.