Iraq denounces ‘aggression’, recalls its ambassador to Tehran after Iran launches attacks in Kurdistan region
Baghdad has denounced “aggression” against its sovereignty and summoned its ambassador to Tehran for consultations after Iranian ballistic missile attacks in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and neighboring Syria, which Iran has placed in what it considers a “legitimate right to defend” his own security after recent attacks against him, the French news agency reported.
On Tuesday evening, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani considered that “the Iranian attack on Erbil was a clear act of aggression against Iraq.” He continued in statements, reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “This act is certainly a dangerous development that undermines the strong relationship between Iraq and Iran.”
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced, on the night between Monday and Tuesday, that it had targeted “the headquarters of spies and the gathering headquarters of anti-Iranian terrorist groups in the region” and “confirmed” the destruction of the “headquarters of the Zionist agency Mossad”. in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and ISIS rallies in Syria.
Emergency services clear rubble from a house hit by Iranian missile strikes in Erbil, Iraq, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 (AP)
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned its ambassador to Tehran for consultations “in the context of the recent Iranian attacks in Erbil, which led to the fall of numerous martyrs and wounded.”
Regional authorities reported that at least “4 civilians” were killed and 6 others were injured. Among the dead were prominent real estate businessman Bachraw Diziyi and his wife.
A correspondent for Agence France-Presse reported that the missiles hit an upscale residential area in the northeastern suburb of Erbil. Images from the scene showed at least one two-story building almost completely destroyed.
Baghdad considered the attacks “an aggression against the sovereignty of Iraq and the security of the Iraqi people,” stressing that it will take measures, including “submitting a complaint to the United Nations Security Council.”
The prime minister of the regional government, Masrour Barzani, denounced “this crime against the Kurdish people”. He called on the federal government to take a “strong stance against this violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”
Barzani met with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Kurdish official stressed that “these attacks are unjustified and illegal and the international community must not remain silent” in this regard, according to a regional government statement.
“Responding to sources of threat”
In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani stressed that Iran “will not hesitate to use its legitimate right to deterrently address sources of national security threats and defend the safety of its citizens.”
He explained that the attack is “part of Iran’s response to those who take measures against Iranian national security and the safety of citizens” and falls within the framework of “just punishment” against “attackers against the country’s security.”
The Revolutionary Guards had already bombed Erbil with ballistic missiles in March 2022, and indicated at the time that the Mossad “headquarters” had been targeted. Regional authorities denied any Israeli intelligence presence at the time.
In its statement, on the night between Monday and Tuesday, the “Revolutionary Guard” also confirmed the destruction of a Mossad headquarters, as part of a response “to the recent evil actions of the Zionist entity which led to the martyrdom of leaders from from the Revolutionary Guard and the axis of resistance”.
In recent weeks, the leader of the Revolutionary Guard, Radhi Mousavi, was killed near Damascus, the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, in the southern suburb of Beirut, and the military leader of Hezbollah, Wissam al -Taweel, in southern Lebanon, in operations attributed to the… Jewish state.
According to the Revolutionary Guards’ statement, the targeted headquarters “was a center for expanding espionage operations and planning terrorist operations in the region and particularly inside Iran.”
But a prominent Iraqi official believes the existence of a Mossad headquarters is a “false” claim.
National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Araji said after inspecting the place: “We have visited every corner of this house, and everything indicates that this is the family home of the Iraqi businessman from Erbil, and therefore this statement is false and incorrect. “
A destroyed car appears in front of a house hit by Iranian missile strikes in Erbil, Iraq, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 (AP)
American complaint
The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, an ally of Tehran, finds itself in a delicate position to balance the relationship between the two bitter enemies, Iran and the United States.
US National Security Council spokesman Adrian Watson denounced “a series of reckless and imprecise attacks,” stressing that “no American crews or facilities were targeted” in Kurdistan.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller condemned the attacks “strongly”, adding: “We oppose the reckless Iranian missile attacks that undermine the stability of Iraq.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron deemed that “these unwarranted and unjustified actions constitute an unacceptable breach of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) “strongly” condemned the Iranian attacks. Through “X”, he stressed “the need to stop attacks that violate Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity from any side.”
Iraq has been in the midst of regional tensions since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip. Military bases on its territory, where American or international coalition forces are present to fight extremists, have been attacked by drones and missiles claimed by factions loyal to Tehran.
The United States had previously carried out attacks in Iraq against these factions, the latest of which occurred in early January, which resulted in the killing of a military leader of the “Al-Nujaba Movement”, which is part of the “Mobilization Popular”. Strength.”
Response to Kerman’s attack
Furthermore, these Iraqi factions are adopting cross-border attacks against bases in Syria. Iranian missiles have also targeted Syria.
The Revolutionary Guards confirmed that they had targeted “the meeting places of terrorist leaders and main elements (…), in particular (ISIS), in the occupied territories in Syria”.
He said this bombing occurred “in response to recent atrocities by terrorist groups which led to the martyrdom of a group of our dear citizens in Kerman and Rask.”
On January 3, two suicide bombings occurred in the southern Iranian city of Kerman near the shrine of former Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander Major General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony commemorating the fourth anniversary of his death in an American raid in Iraq.
The two attacks, claimed by ISIS, caused around 90 deaths and dozens of injuries.
In December, 11 Iranian policemen were killed in Sistan-Baluchestan province, in southeastern Iran, in an attack claimed by the Sunni extremist organization “Army of Justice”.
Syrians observe a destroyed medical facility that came under an Iranian missile attack late Monday evening in the village of Talita, in rural Idlib, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 (AP)
Violation of Pakistani airspace
In a related context, today (Tuesday), Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Tehran’s unjustified violation of Pakistan’s airspace, after Iran targeted two bases of the opposition group Jaish al- Adl in the Balochistan region of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires to the ministry’s headquarters.
The ministry indicated that the Iranian attack which occurred inside Pakistani territory resulted in the death of two children.
Official media reported that Iran destroyed two bases of the Baloch opposition group “Army of Justice” in Pakistan today (Tuesday) after targeting them with missiles and drones.
Tasnim Agency, affiliated to the Revolutionary Guards, reported that the attack targeted the Green Mountain in Pakistan’s Balochistan region.
