The Iraqi government has vehemently condemned the US airstrikes conducted on Wednesday, targeting sites utilized by Iranian-backed groups within Iraq. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani strongly asserted that these strikes flagrantly violated the sovereignty of Iraq.
In defense, the United States asserted that its attacks were proportionate and specifically targeted "Iran-affiliated groups." However, the paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), primarily composed of Iran-backed Shia Muslim militias, reported casualties, labeling the US action as "treacherous" and resulting in the death of one of their fighters. The strikes affected bases in al-Qaim, a town on the Syrian border, and Jurf al-Nasr in the central province of Babil.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin justified the airstrikes, stating they were a direct response to a series of escalating attacks against US and other international forces in Iraq and Syria. However, Major General Yehia Rasool, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sudani, criticized the US action, calling it a "reckless escalation" that undermines years of cooperation. He connected the events to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, emphasizing the region's struggle with the danger of expanding conflict.
Iraq declared its intention to treat the US operations as acts of aggression on its soil, urging the international community to intervene and help restore peace. Iraq's national security adviser, Qassem al-Aaraji, expressed on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the US actions would not contribute to calm and suggested that the US should focus on pressuring a halt to the Israeli offensive in Gaza instead of targeting Iraqi national bodies.
This recent development follows a ballistic missile and rocket attack on Iraq's Al Asad air base, where four US military personnel were injured. The Pentagon stated they had returned to duty, and no significant damage to facilities was reported. Last week's attack was attributed to an Iran-backed militia, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group comprising several Iran-affiliated militias operating in Iraq.
The US, emphasizing its reluctance to escalate conflict, called on the responsible groups and their Iranian sponsors to cease the attacks. Centcom, the US military's Central Command, detailed that the strikes occurred at 00:15 local time on Wednesday, targeting Kataib Hezbollah headquarters, storage, and training locations for various capabilities.
Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Iraqi Shia militia with ties to Iran's Quds Force, has been designated a terrorist organization by the US since 2009. The recent events add to the escalating tensions between Iran-aligned groups and the US, with a backdrop of ongoing conflicts in the region, including Gaza, Yemen, and Syria.