Iraq Condemns US attack
On Tuesday, the Iraqi government denounced the U.S. airstrikes carried out overnight on Iraqi military positions, labeling them a “clear hostile act” that resulted in the death of one serviceman and injuries to 18 individuals. The U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes on Monday in response to a drone attack earlier in the day by Iran-aligned militants, leaving one U.S. service member critically wounded and two others injured.
The Iraqi government condemned the U.S. strikes, branding them as an “unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty.” The government emphasized that attacks by armed groups on military bases hosting U.S.-led coalition advisers constitute hostile acts and breach Iraqi sovereignty, according to an official statement.
Unnamed Iraqi security sources reported that the overnight U.S. strikes targeted the headquarters of the Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah in the city of Hilla, south of Baghdad. The strikes resulted in the death of one Kataib Hezbollah fighter and injuries to 16 others.
A tricky situation for Prime Minister
In response, Kataib Hezbollah, aligned with Iran, criticized the government’s stance for condemning the militia attacks on U.S.-led coalition targets. A security official from the group, Abu Ali al-Askari, issued a warning on social media, cautioning those at all levels not to test their patience. He defiantly pledged to persist in attacks against U.S. forces, presenting a direct challenge to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s government.
Al-Sudani, facing limited control over certain Iran-backed factions that played a crucial role in securing his power a year ago, now constitutes a potent bloc within his governing coalition. Furthermore, these factions do not uniformly support actions against U.S. forces.
The United States, with 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq, maintains its mission to advise and assist local forces in preventing the resurgence of the Islamic State, which seized significant territories in both countries in 2014 before being defeated.
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The surge in Military attacks is mostly due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The militant groups situated in the Middle east have shown commitment to carry these attacks until Israel halts its operation. The onslaught by Israel in retaliation to Hamas attack of 7th October has faced heavy backlash across the globe.