Iraq summoned the ambassador of Iran protests missile attack in The North city of Irbil on Sunday.
Denouncing a “flagrant violation of (Iraqi) sovereignty”, he summoned the ambassador, Iraj Masjidi, to “transmit the government’s protests over the missile strikes” which had caused “material losses” and “damage to civilian installations and houses”.
Iran claimed responsibility on Sunday for the missile barrage that struck near a sprawling US consulate complex in northern Iraq, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria which killed two members of his Revolutionary Guards earlier this week.
No injuries were reported in Sundays attack on the city of Irbil, which marked a significant escalation between the United States and Iran. Hostility between longtime foes has often played out in Iraq, including government is allied with both countries.
the attack was harshly condemned by the Iraqi governmentwho called it a “violation of international law and norms” and demanded an explanation from the Iranian leadership.
The United States said the missile strike came from Iran and strongly condemned it.
“The strikes were an outrageous violation of Iraqi sovereignty. No US facilities were damaged or personnel injured, and we have no indication that attack was directed against the United States,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. in Washington.
from iran powerful The Revolutionary Guards said on son website that he attacked what he described as an Israeli spy center in Irbil. He did not specify, but in a statement said that Israel had been on the offensive citing the recent strike that killed two members of the Revolutionary Guards. the semi-official tasnim news The agency quoted an unnamed source as saying that Iran fired 10 Fateh missiles, including several Fateh-110 missiles, which have a range of about 300 kilometers (186 miles).
The source claimed that attack succeeded in several victims. There was no immediate comment from israel on the Iranian missile allegations or barrage.
an iraqi official in Baghdad first said that several missiles had hit the american consulate in Erbil, which is new and unoccupied, adding that it was the intended target of the attack. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the head of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Foreign media officedit none of the missiles had struck the American installation but that the residential areas around the compound had been hit.
Following a Cabinet meeting, Iraq government in Baghdad reiterated son refusal to allow Iraq will be used to settle scores among others countries and said he demanded explanations from Iranian leaders.
Satellite broadcast the Kurdistan24 channel, located near the American consulate, went on air of their studio shortly after the attack showing shards of glass and debris on their studio floor.
the attack came several days after Iran announced it would retaliate for an Israeli strike near Damascus, Syria, which killed two members of its Revolutionary Guards. On Sunday, the Iranian state-run IRNA news Iraqi quoted agency media recognize the attacks in Irbil, without saying where they come from.
The missile barrage coincided with regional tensions. Negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a “pause” over Russian demands on sanctions against Moscow for it’s the war on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Iran has suspended son secret Baghdad-brokered talks aimed at defusing years-long tensions with regional rival Saudi Arabia, after Saudi Arabia won out his greatest known mass execution in it’s modern history with over three dozen Shiites killed.
Iraqi security officials said there were no casualties from the Erbil attack which they said happened after midnight and caused material shame in the area. They were talking on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
A of Iraqi officials said the ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, without giving further details. He said that the Iranian-made Fateh-110 missiles were probably fired in reprisals for the two Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria.
US forces stationed within the Erbil airport compound fell under fire rocket and drone attacks in the past, with US officials blame Iran-backed groups.
America’s Best Commander for the Middle East has repeatedly warned of growing threats of attacks by Iran and Iran-backed militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.
In an interview with The Associated Press (AP) in December, Marine General Frank McKenzie said that if U.S. forces in Iraq has moved to a state of non-combat role of Iran and its auxiliaries again want all American troops to leave the country. As a result, he said, that “could trigger more attacks. »
The Biden administration has decided last July at the end of the United States combat mission in Iraq by Dec. 31, and U.S. forces gradually transitioned to an advisory council role last year. The troops will still provide air support and other military aid for iraq fight against Daesh.
The American presence in Iraq has long been a flashpoint for Tehran, but tensions rose after a January 2020 US drone strike near Baghdad airport killed a senior Iranian official general. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad air base, where American troops were stationed. More than 100 military personnel suffered traumatic brain injuries in the explosions.
More recently, Iranian proxies would be responsible for a belated assassination attempt last year on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
And officials said they believed Iran was behind october drone attack to military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. Not from US personnel were killed or injured in the attack.
Al-Kadhimi tweeted: “The aggression that targeted the dear city of Erbil and spreading fear among its inhabitants is a attack on Security of our people.”
Massour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled region condemned the attack. In a Facebook post he said that Irbil “will not bow to cowards who carries out the terrorist attack.”
