Iraq blames US for strike that killed militia leader in Baghdad


Jan 4, 2024. Posted by  Balkan Periscope - Hellas

Iraqi officials on Thursday accused the U.S. of escalating tensions in Iraq after a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad killed the militia leader of an Iranian-backed group.

Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a “strong condemnation” of what it called a “blatant attack” on an Iraqi military headquarters.

“The attack on a security formation linked to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and subject to the authority of the state is a dangerous escalation,” the statement reads, “and we affirm that Iraq reserves its right to take a firm stance and all measures that deter anyone who tries to harm its territory and its security forces.”

The U.S. airstrike targeted the leader of Iranian-backed militia group Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN).

The strike hit near a security headquarters in the capital of Baghdad, according to Iraqi officials.

U.S. officials said the strike hit a vehicle in Baghdad, according to media reports.

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of militia groups, said the strike killed HHN leader Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, along with at least one other Iraqi official. Five others were wounded.

Yahya Rasoul, the commander in chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, also condemned the attacks in a statement on Telegram.

“We consider this targeting a dangerous escalation and assault on Iraq, far from the spirit and letter of the mandate and the work for which the international coalition was created in Iraq,” Rasoul said.

The Pentagon said in a statement to The Hill that American forces are working to protect troops and assets in the Middle East but did not confirm the strike.

“The United States is continuing to take action to protect our forces in Iraq and Syria by addressing the threats they face,” an official said.

The U.S. has been attacked more than 100 times in Iraq and Syria from Iranian-backed groups since late October, shortly after the Israel-Hamas war broke out.

The Iranian-backed Houthis have also attacked commercial ships and U.S. boats in the Red Sea 23 times since November.

The Middle East has been tense this week after an Israeli strike killed a senior Hamas official in Lebanon and a deadly bombing in Iran killed dozens of people, though it’s not clear who was behind the Iran attack.

The Iraqi government is aligned with Iranian-backed militia groups in the country, including the HHN.

The Hill

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