DUBAI, UAE - The Iraqi government has activated nuclear radiation monitoring stations in several provinces as military tensions rise in the region following Israel’s targeting of Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities.

The move comes amid growing fears of possible radioactive leaks.

Earlier on Tuesday, the National Authority for Nuclear, Radiological, Chemical and Biological Control announced that Iraq had formed an Arab Nuclear Emergency Operations Room to respond to any risks of radiation.

Ahmad Khudair, spokesperson for the authority, told The New Region that an operations room has been in place for two days and includes all relevant government institutions. 

“Monitoring stations have also been activated in provinces bordering Iran, including Sulaimani and Erbil,” he said.

“A daily report is sent to the operations room to assess the situation,” Khudair added.

Israel on Friday launched a comprehensive strike on Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities and killing dozens of high-ranking military leaders, which prompted a retaliatory campaign by the Iranian regime that has seen the two countries trading fire for the past six days and targeting civilian infrastructure as well as military targets.

Israel has specifically targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear research facility in Isfahan, and has made public its intention to target Fordow Enrichment Plant near the city of Qom.

 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi called the development “deeply concerning,” saying that nuclear facilities “must never be attacked.”

The IAEA on Friday confirmed that “no increase in radiation levels has been observed" at the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran after it was targeted in the strikes, assuaging concerns relating to a possible containment breach of nuclear materials.

Khudair also told The New Region the closest Iranian nuclear power plant to Iraq is about 350 kilometers away, and no radiation concerns have been recorded so far, however monitoring teams are still working around the clock.

He added that the agency is working with Iraqi authorities to offer training and advice.