“We treat these operations as acts of aggression and will take the necessary actions to protect the lives and dignity of Iraqis,” an Iraqi military spokesperson warned.
The Pentagon blamed the attack on the Iran-linked Popular Mobilization Forces militia, which has now been integrated into the Iraqi army. [Getty]
Iraq’s government on Wednesday called recent U.S. airstrikes on military bases an unwarranted act of aggression and vowed to fight back if the country’s sovereignty is violated again.
Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the U.S. military attacked two militia positions in Iraq early Wednesday morning in retaliation for a missile attack on U.S. forces in western Iraq.
The Pentagon blamed the attack on the Iran-linked Popular Mobilization Forces militia, which has now been integrated into the Iraqi army.
“With a clear determination to undermine Iraq’s security and stability, the United States has resumed airstrikes against the positions of Iraqi military units of the Army and Popular Mobilization Forces in the areas of Jurf al-Nasr and al-Qaim.”Iraq Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said among the officials. statement Wednesday, January 24th.
“We treat these operations as acts of aggression and will take the necessary actions to protect the lives and dignity of Iraqis in a land that is safe and stable thanks to the sacrifices of our people,” the statement added.
“Proactive steps have been taken to rebuild the future relationships and mission of coalition members and advisors in Iraq, but recent actions have impeded this progress and disrupted various agreements and joint security cooperation. It’s hurting the field.”
According to Iraqi intelligence sources, the US attack targeted Kataib Hezbollah, a group affiliated with the PMF.
The targeted locations were reportedly the Jurf al-Sakhr area south of Baghdad and al-Qaim on the Syrian border, killing two people and injuring two others.
“This unacceptable behavior undermines years of cooperation, blatantly violates Iraq’s sovereignty, and contributes to an irresponsible escalation.” And it comes as we grapple with the consequences of the immoral war of extermination facing the Palestinian people,” read another part of the statement.
“We are witnessing the United States embarking on reprehensible and unwarranted aggressive actions against Iraq’s territory and national sovereignty.”
Iraq’s military spokesperson called on the international community to “prevent any violations that threaten Iraq’s stability and sovereignty and fulfill its responsibility to support peace and security.”
Iraq’s national security adviser, Qassim al-Araj, called the US airstrikes “a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty that does not contribute to easing tensions.”
in post On the X platform, al-Araj called on the US to de-escalate Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Gaza population, instead of targeting and bombing the headquarters of “Iraqi’s state institutions.”
Iraq’s parliament speaker also strongly condemned the US attack, calling it “a continued blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and lack of respect by the US for international and bilateral agreements.”
Congress also called on the Iraqi government to accelerate the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country.
“Delays in implementing this decision will be a clear violation of the law and the will of the people. Iraq’s sovereignty and the blood of its people are an insurmountable line that cannot be crossed,” the statement said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani on January 18 told the US-led Global Coalition Against Islamic State to withdraw from Iraq amid tensions in the region over Israel’s deadly war in Gaza. I called again. Iraq’s parliament also supports the expulsion of US troops.
The United States has about 2,500 soldiers in Iraq and nearly 900 in Syria, supporting the anti-IS coalition.
The US-led coalition in Iraq has announced that it will cease all combat operations in Iraq in 2021 and is stationing troops at Iraqi military bases purely for advisory and training purposes. Prime Minister Sudani said that now that IS has been defeated, the multinational force is no longer needed.
The Iraqi Islamic Resistance Movement, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, has launched attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria since Israel launched a brutal war in Gaza last October. .
The group claims the attack was retaliation for the US government’s support for Israel during the Gaza war and was aimed at forcing the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
Iraqi militias and parties allied with the Iranian government said Baghdad should set a clear date for the withdrawal of all U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq.
In 2020, Iraq’s parliament voted to expel all foreign troops from the country. The move was prompted by the U.S. assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a senior Iraqi militant leader.
On January 3, 2020, Soleimani, former commander of Iran’s Overseas Quds Force, and PMF deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad International Airport.
