The Iraqi government denounces the recent American bombing and announces the death toll
The Iraqi government denounces the recent American bombing and announces the death toll
2023-12-26 00:01
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, the Iraqi government condemned the American air strike that targeted the headquarters of factions under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces, resulting in the fall of a member and the wounding of 18 others, including civilians. This was in response to the attack that targeted a military base in the city of Erbil, which led to the death of… Casualties among the ranks of the US Army.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Media Office stated that the Iraqi government confirms that it, through all its security forces, all its constitutional institutions and all its legal authorities, is dealing firmly with the attacks by some elements on the headquarters of foreign diplomatic missions or the places where military advisors from friendly countries are present. These attacks have previously been diagnosed as hostile acts that affect the sovereignty of the Iraqi state, and it is unacceptable for them to be committed under any circumstances or under any name or justification.”
The statement added, “The Iraqi government condemns what happened at dawn today, Tuesday, December 26, 2023, of targeting Iraqi military sites by the American side under the pretext of response, which led to the martyrdom of a member and the injury of 18 others, including civilians. It is a clear and unconstructive hostile act.” It does not serve the path of long-term common interests, in establishing security and stability, and works contrary to the declared desire of the American side to strengthen relations with Iraq.”
The statement also considered that “this step harms bilateral relations between the two countries, and will complicate ways to reach understandings through joint dialogue to end the presence of the international coalition, and, above all, it represents an unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”
The statement continued, “Our security forces have succeeded in extending security and stability throughout our country, and achieved victory over the terrorist ISIS gangs, which no longer pose a threat to Iraqi national security. Therefore, preserving the fruits of this victory is at the core of our security and strategic priorities, and we will not allow any party to compromise what has been achieved.” And it was consolidated through thousands of precious sacrifices.”
The White House had announced earlier today at dawn that United States President Joe Biden had directed air strikes on three sites belonging to Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliated groups in Iraq, in response to the attack that targeted a military base in Erbil and resulted in the injury of three soldiers. Americans.
The White House said in a statement that US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, briefed President Biden in a phone call on Monday afternoon about the incident, and several options were presented to the president, and Biden ordered the strikes during that call.
The statement added that the strikes focused on “drones activities,” indicating that groups affiliated with the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades focused in particular on drone activities.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced this morning that US forces launched strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliated groups in Iraq.
Austin said, in a statement, “These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against American personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran’s Kataib Hezbollah Brigades and its affiliated groups on the Erbil air base that resulted in one casualty.” 3 Americans, one of whom is in critical condition.”
He added, “We will not hesitate to take the necessary measures to defend the United States, our forces, and our interests, and there is no higher priority than that.”
The US Secretary of Defense continued by saying, “While we do not seek to escalate the conflict in the region, we are fully committed and prepared to take further measures necessary to protect our people and our facilities.”
The armed Shiite factions escalated their attacks on the military bases of the international coalition forces led by the United States of America in Iraq and Syria after the events of October 7 in Palestine (the Al-Aqsa flood).
900 American soldiers are stationed in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq on a mission that the United States says aims to advise local forces and assist them in trying to prevent ISIS from re-emerging after it seized vast areas in Iraq and Syria in 2014 before being defeated.
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