Hussein said in a call with Hamish Falconer, UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, that "Iraq is now directly affected by the war" in the region.

"Iran continues to bomb areas in the Kurdistan Region, especially Erbil, while the opposing side targets sites in southern and western Iraq," without directly naming Israel and the US, which are blamed for attacks on pro-Iran groups.

The strikes expose Iraq "to escalating security challenges," Hussein said.