Capitals (agencies)
The United States launched air strikes in Iraq and Syria yesterday, on more than 85 targets, amid reports that about 40 people were killed.
The strikes came in response to an attack targeting American forces, which led to the death of 3 soldiers on the Jordanian-Syrian border.
The use of long-range B-1 bombers by American forces launched from the United States is for the first time in the response of the administration of US President Joe Biden to the attack carried out by militants early last week.
The US President said, “Our response began today, and will continue at the times and places we choose.”
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Austin Lloyd said after the raids, “This is the beginning of our response.”
He continued, “We do not want a conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the president and I will not tolerate any attacks on American forces.”
The Iraqi government spokesman, Bassem Al-Awadi, considered that the American attack on Iraq’s sovereignty undermines the chances of the success of negotiations to organize the work of the international coalition in Iraq.
He added that the targeting of Iraqi security sites resulted in the death of 16 people and the wounding of 25 others, in addition to losses in residential buildings and citizens’ property.
Al-Awadi reiterated, “Iraq refuses to let its lands be an arena for settling scores, and all parties must realize this. Iraq’s land and sovereignty are not the appropriate place to send messages and display force.”
For its part, Syrian sources said that the American raids resulted in the killing of 23 people who were at the targeted sites.
The Iraqi presidency said in a statement: “The American attack on the city of Al-Qaim in Anbar Governorate and other Iraqi border areas represents a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty,” despite the Iraqi government’s announcement more than once that it rejects such actions, indicating that it is working to escalate tensions and threaten Security and stability of the entire region.
The presidency added that Iraq has expressed a clear desire to organize the work of the international coalition through a round of talks, but yesterday’s attacks will undermine the chances of success of the ongoing negotiations, noting that “violence only breeds violence and aggravation.”
The statement called on all parties to assume their national responsibilities towards the dangers and threats the country has been exposed to for months, the continuation of which may lead to destabilizing security and stability and endangering the lives and safety of citizens. It called for an emergency meeting of the Iraqi presidencies “the Presidency of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the Presidency of Parliament” and the political blocs to discuss these developments and repercussions and to take clear and unified positions that preserve the country’s dignity, sovereignty, and the security of citizens.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry also announced that the Chargé d'Affairs of the United States Embassy in Baghdad was summoned to hand him an official note of protest regarding the “attack that targeted military and civilian sites” in the country.
The Baghdad government denied the existence of any prior coordination for the United States to launch strikes on Iraq, describing what the American side announced as “an allegation aimed at misleading international public opinion.”
Last Saturday, the Iraqi government announced the launch of the first phase of the Iraqi-American dialogue to end the mission of the international coalition in Iraq, following an agreement between them to launch the Supreme Military Committee at the level of working groups to assess the threat and danger of ISIS, the situational and operational requirements, and to strengthen the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces, in preparation for ending The mission of the international coalition in Iraq.
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