Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani described the US airstrike on a facility used by Hezbollah as a “clear and hostile act” Tuesday after three American soldiers were wounded in a terrorist drone attack the previous day.
US airstrikes, ordered by President Biden on Christmas Day from an executive retreat at Camp David, killed “a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants,” according to General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command.
The Iraqi prime minister’s media office said in a statement that one member of Baghdad’s security forces was killed in the US strike, while 18 others were wounded, including civilians.
The Iraqi government said that while it condemned the initial attack on US troops as “unacceptable”, the American response was also out of bounds.
“It does not meet the path of long-term mutual interest in establishing security and stability, and works contrary to the declared desire of the American side to strengthen relations with Iraq,” the statement said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani called the US airstrike on a facility used by Hezbollah a “clear and hostile act” after three American soldiers were wounded in Monday’s attack. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
“We emphasize that this step affects bilateral relations between the two countries, and will complicate the way to reach an understanding through mutual dialogue to end the presence of the international coalition, and, above all, it represents an unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”
“The Iraqi government emphasizes that it will deal decisively with attacks by some elements on the premises of foreign diplomatic missions or places where military advisers of friendly countries are stationed,” the prime minister’s office also said.
Agence France-Presse reported that the funeral of a dead terrorist was attended by dozens of mourners who chanted “No, no to America,” and carried militia flags along with pictures of slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
The airstrikes, ordered by President Biden on Christmas Day from his Camp David retreat, killed “a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants,” according to General Michael Erik Kurilla. AFP via Getty Images Biden chose to respond after a suicide drone from Iran-backed Hezbollah militants attacked a US military base in Erbil, injuring three soldiers, including one critically. Julia Nikhinson/UPI/Shutterstock
A December 2019 missile attack on an Iraqi military base in Kirkuk that killed an American contractor led then-President Donald Trump to order an attack on Soleimani at Baghdad airport the following month.
Biden chose to respond after a suicide bomber from Iran-backed Hezbollah militants attacked a US military base in Erbil, injuring three soldiers, including one critically, according to NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson.
“The President has placed no higher priority than the protection of American personnel who serve in harm’s way. The United States will act at the time and in the manner we choose if these attacks continue,” Watson said.
“The Iraqi government emphasized that it will deal decisively with the attacks of some elements on the premises of foreign diplomatic missions,” said al-Sudani. Reuters
“This attack aims to hold accountable the elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks,” added Kurilla. “We will always protect our team.”
The identities of the injured US service members have not been released by the Pentagon.
Attacks on US troops in the Middle East have increased since Hamas’ October 7 invasion of Israel, in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were slaughtered and 240 were taken hostage back to the Gaza Strip.
During a funeral the following day for one of the dead militants, Hassan Hammadi al-Amiri, the prime minister said the attack would draw a response from Iraq, the Daily Mail reported. AFP via Getty Images
Iran-linked militias in Iraq and Syria have launched more than 100 attacks on American forces since the surprise terrorist attack on the Jewish state, including a series of drone and missile attacks carried out by Yemen-based Houthi militants against commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Earlier this month, the US embassy in Baghdad also took rocket fire from an unknown terrorist group.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
