Iraq warns after a new US attack targeting pro-Iranian groups
Feb 03, 2024
Baghdad [Iraq], February 3: The Iraqi side reacted strongly after a new US retaliatory attack against pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq and Syria.
General Yehia Rasool, spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, today warned that the February 2 US attack in western Iraq near the Syrian border was a "violation of Iraq's sovereignty" and would bring "disastrous consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and the region", according to AFP.
Meanwhile, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the US informed the Iraqi government before carrying out the attacks on February 2.
The new attack was in response to a drone attack in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border on January 28 that killed three US soldiers and injured more than 40 people. The US accused Iran-backed militias of carrying out the attack, while Tehran denied involvement.
Meanwhile, Syrian state media on February 2 accused the "US invasion" of locations in the country's desert areas and on the Syria-Iraq border of leading to a number of casualties, according to Reuters.
The February 2 US attack on 85 Iran-related targets in Iraq and Syria took place for more than 30 minutes and appeared to be successful, according to Mr. Kirby. However, he affirmed that the US does not seek war with Iran.
US President Joe Biden said on February 2 that he had directed military attacks on facilities in Iraq and Syria linked to groups attacking US forces and emphasized that the response would continue.
"Our response begins today. It will continue at a time and place of our choosing... America does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world . But let everyone who may seek to harm us know this: If you harm an American, we will respond," President Biden emphasized.
There is currently no information about Iran's response to the new US attack. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi announced on February 2 that Iran will not start a war but will 'react strongly' to anyone who bullies, according to Reuters.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
