Iraq condemns violation of sovereignty by US, warns of repercussions

By Al Mayadeen English
26 Dec 2023 15:05
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The Iraqi government emphasizes that the hostile actions of the US government in Iraq are 'unacceptable' under any 'pretext' or 'justification'.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani sits for a portrait in his office in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. (AP)

The Iraq government condemned, in a statement on Tuesday, the United States’ targeting of the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi Resistance faction, noting that such attacks on Iraqi sovereign soil are "unacceptable" under "any circumstances, pretext, or justification."

The government further underscored that the targeting, which led to the martyrdom of a member of the Resistance and the injury of 18 others, including civilians, is "a clear hostile act, not constructive, and does not serve the path of long-term common interests in extending security and stability, and works against the declared desire of the American side to strengthen relations with Iraq."

Moreover, the statement emphasized 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," adding that, "above all, it represents an unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty."

US attacks Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah facilities in support of 'Israel'

The United States attacked three facilities it said belonged to the Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq and linked Resistance groups early Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed in a press release.

The strikes came in response to an operation carried out by the Resistance on Monday targeting a US military base in Iraqi Kurdistan's Erbil, which resulted in the wounding of three Americans, including one seriously, Austin claimed.

"Today, at @POTUS’ direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary & proportionate strikes on 3 facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah & affiliated groups in Iraq," his X post read.

"These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq & Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today."

Today, at @POTUS’ direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary & proportionate strikes on 3 facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah & affiliated groups in Iraq. These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq & Syria by…
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) December 26, 2023