Iraq has condemned U.S. for a ‘clear hostile act’ after Joe Biden ordered airstrikes that killed a militant and injured 18 others.
Biden retaliated to a suicide drone strike that wounded three American service members on Monday by sending fighter jets to hit three facilities in Hilla used by Kataib Hezbollah militants.
U.S. forces in the Middle East have been attacked more than 100 times since the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas as tensions have boiled over.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani slammed the attack as ‘counterproductive’ and ‘unacceptable’ and warned he would respond.
The government also condemned the Biden administration for striking military targets ‘under the guise of retaliation’.
A funeral was held for the dead fighter Hassan Hammadi al-Amiri and was attended by dozens of mourners who shouted ‘No, no to America’, a photographer said.
Many in the crowd carried Hashed flags and photos of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani who was killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad in January 2020.
Iraq has condemned U.S. for a ‘clear hostile act’ after Joe Biden ordered airstrikes that killed a militant and injured 18 others. Kataeb Hezbollah members carry the body of Hassan Hammadi al-Amiri, who was killed in the strike
An Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah fighter and another man inspect the site of the U.S. airstrikes in Hilla
‘The Iraqi government emphasizes that it will deal decisively with the attacks of some elements on the premesis of foreign diplomatic missions or places where the military advisors of friendly countries are stationed; These attacks are hostile and have a negative impact on Iraqi sovereignty and cannot be accepted under any circumstances,’ al-Sudani said.
‘At the same time, the Iraqi government condemns the incident that happened in the early hours of today, Tuesday, December 26, when Iraqi military bases were targeted under the guise of retaliation by the United States and led to the martyrdom of one of its members and the injury of 18 others.
‘This is a hostile and non-constructive action. And it is against the US declared desire to strengthen relations.
‘We emphasize that such actions damage the bilateral relations of the two countries and complicate the ways of reaching an understanding to end the presence of the international coalition, and most importantly, it shows an unacceptable violation of Iraq’s sovereignty’
A funeral was held for the dead fighter Hassan Hammadi al-Amiri and was attended by dozens of mourners who shouted ‘No, no to America’, a photographer said
Joe Biden is seen on December 23 shortly before boarding Marine One to fly to Camp David for the Christmas holidays
Biden, who is spending Christmas at Camp David, was briefed on the attack which injured the U.S. trio at a base by Erbil airfield.
The president then took the decision to retaliate, and the U.S. military carried out the strikes at 1:45 GMT, likely killing ‘a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants’ and destroying multiple facilities used by the group.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, said the airstrikes were a direct reprisal.
‘These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks,’ he said.
‘We will always protect our forces.’
The Pentagon did not disclose details about the identity of the service member who was critically wounded or offer more details on the injuries sustained in the attack.
Lloyd Austin, the Defense Secretary, said: ‘My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured.’
The White House National Security Council said Biden was briefed on the attack on Monday morning and ordered the Pentagon to prepare response options against those responsible.
‘The President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way. The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue,’ NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
Footage shared by a journalist with Kurdish TV reportedly showed the moment of impact
The Erbil base used by the U.S. troops. Washington has around 2,500 soldiers deployed in Iraq
Monday’s military attack and U.S. retaliation is the latest back-and-forth since a surge in violence began in mid-October, when Iran-aligned militias started targeting U.S. assets in Iraq and Syria over Washington’s backing of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Since October 17, there have been 103 attacks against its troops in Iraq and Syria.
The majority of those attacks have been claimed by Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which opposes U.S. support for Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In early December, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad was targeted with rocket fire. That attack, the first of its kind since the start of the war in Gaza, was not claimed by any group.
The office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced several arrests and said some had links to the security services.
Washington has around 2,500 soldiers deployed in Iraq and about 900 in Syria.
The international coalition has been fighting the Islamic State group since 2014.