Shafaq News / The Israeli "Jerusalem Post" newspaper reported that the United States on one hand and Iran and its militias on the other hand are preparing for a new round of conflict in Iraq after a year of increasing tensions and mutual missile attacks.

The newspaper likened the current situation in Iraq to the tensions as if they were "boxers in a ring, each of them waiting what will happen in the next round."

The American New York Times had reported in a previous report, that the Pentagon laid secret plans to escalate the fighting in Iraq against the Iranian-backed militias, and that some leaders opposed these plans and wanted a direct confrontation with Iran.