Iran has claimed accountability for a missile barrage that struck close to a sprawling US consulate complicated within the northern Iraqi metropolis of Erbil on Sunday, saying it was in retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard.
No accidents have been reported within the assault, which marked a big escalation in hostilities between the US and Iran which have typically performed out in Iraq, whose authorities is allied with each international locations.
Iran’s highly effective Revolutionary Guard mentioned on its web site that it launched the assault in opposition to an Israeli “strategic centre of conspiracy” in Erbil. It didn't elaborate, however in an announcement mentioned Israel had itself been on the offensive, citing a latest strike that killed two Revolutionary Guards.
Earlier, a US defence official and Iraqi safety officers mentioned the strike was launched from neighbouring Iran.
One Iraqi official in Baghdad initially mentioned a number of missiles had hit the US consulate in Erbil and that it was the goal of the assault.
Later, Lawk Ghafari, the top of Kurdistan’s overseas media workplace, mentioned not one of the missiles had struck the US facility however that areas across the compound had been hit.
A press release issued by the inside ministry of Iraq’s Kurdistan area mentioned the missiles have been launched from outdoors Iraq, from the east, with out naming Iran.
The US defence official mentioned it was nonetheless unsure precisely what number of missiles have been fired and precisely the place they landed. A second US official mentioned there was no harm to any US authorities facility and there was no indication that the goal was the consulate constructing, which is new and at the moment unoccupied.
Satellite tv for pc broadcast channel Kurdistan24, which is situated close to the US consulate, went on air shortly after the assault, exhibiting shattered glass and particles on its studio ground.
The assault got here a number of days after Iran mentioned it might retaliate for an Israeli strike close to Damascus in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard.
On Sunday, Iran’s state-run Irna information company quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the assaults in Erbil, with out saying the place they originated.
The missile barrage coincided with regional tensions.
Negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s nuclear deal hit a “pause” amid Russian calls for on sanctions concentrating on Moscow over its conflict on Ukraine.
In the meantime, Iran suspended its secret Baghdad-brokered talks geared toward defusing years-long tensions with regional rival Saudi Arabia, after Saudi Arabia carried out its largest identified mass execution in its fashionable historical past with greater than three dozens Shiites killed.
The Iraqi safety officers mentioned there have been no casualties from the Erbil assault, which they mentioned occurred after midnight and brought about materials harm within the space.
One of many Iraqi officers mentioned the ballistic missiles have been fired from Iran, with out elaborating. He mentioned the projectiles have been the Iranian-made Fateh-110, more likely to have been fired in retaliation for the 2 Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria.
One other American official mentioned in an announcement that the US condemned what it known as an “outrageous assault in opposition to Iraqi sovereignty and show of violence”.
US forces stationed at Erbil’s airport compound have come below hearth from rocket and drone assaults up to now, with American officers blaming Iran-backed teams.
The highest US commander for the Center East has repeatedly warned concerning the rising threats of assaults from Iran and Iranian-backed militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.
In an interview with the Related Press in December, Marine Basic Frank McKenzie mentioned that, whereas US forces in Iraq have moved to a non-combat function, Iran and its proxies nonetheless need all American troops to depart the nation. Because of this, he mentioned, that will set off extra assaults.
The Biden administration determined final July to finish the US fight mission in Iraq by December 31, and American forces step by step moved to an advisory function final yr. The troops will nonetheless present air help and different navy help for Iraq’s battle in opposition to the so-called Islamic State.
The US presence in Iraq has lengthy been a flashpoint for Tehran, however tensions rose after a US drone strike close to Baghdad airport in January 2020 killed a high Iranian basic.
In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad air base, the place US troops have been stationed. Greater than 100 service members suffered traumatic mind accidents within the blasts.
Extra lately, Iranian proxies are believed to have been liable for an assassination try late final yr on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
And officers have mentioned they imagine Iran was behind a drone assault final October on the navy outpost in southern Syria the place American troops are primarily based. No US personnel have been killed or injured within the assault.
Mr al-Kadhimi tweeted: “The aggression which focused the pricey metropolis of Erbil and unfold worry amongst its inhabitants is an assault on the safety of our folks.”
Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled area, condemned the assault, saying in a Fb put up that Erbil “is not going to bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist assault”.
Post a Comment