An official from the Iraq army denounces the U.S. drone attack in Baghdad that killed an Iran-backed militia commander as a “clear act of assassination.”
kills 11
11 killed in a U.S. drone strike overnight.
In Baghdad, a high-ranking officer of a militia with ties to Iran was killed. The militia is believed to have been responsible for the attack on a military base in Jordan that targeted the United States.
Three American troops were killed.
A representative from the Iraqi Armed Forces denounced the attack as a deliberate killing and stated that it demonstrated the disruptive impact of U.S. and allied soldiers in the nation.
The Central Command of the United States military has officially announced that it carried out an independent attack in Iraq on Wednesday as a response to the recent attacks on American soldiers. This strike resulted in the death of a Kata’ib Hezbollah leader who was directly involved in planning and carrying out attacks on U.S. forces in the area.
According to the statement, there is currently no evidence of harm to surrounding areas or non-military individuals.
Yehia Rasool, the representative for the head of the Iraqi Army, strongly condemned the actions of the United States, claiming that they committed a clear act of murder in Baghdad without consideration for innocent civilians or global regulations.
Succession of retaliatory strikes directed atIran-backed groups
The attacks in Iraq and Syria have occurred simultaneously with the U.S. and U.K. airstrikes.
opposing the Houthi insurgents
In recent weeks, Yemeni forces have utilized drones and missiles to attack ships in the Red Sea.
the ongoing conflict
Both the militias and the Houthis claim that their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinian people during the ongoing conflict.Israel’s devastating war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which shows
There are currently no indications that the situation will improve in the near future..
The U.S. launched its airstrikes
On Friday, the United States launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, targeting over 85 locations associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the militias they support. The strike was in response to the recent attack on a U.S. base in Jordan.
Iran-supported organizations have launched a growing amount of rocket and drone assaults on U.S. bases following Hamas’ violent attack on Israel on October 7th, which led to the Gaza conflict. Over 170 attacks on American troops have been verified in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan since October 17th, although the majority have had minimal impact. The only fatal attack occurred at the Tower 22 base in Jordan.
In 2014, the United States formed a coalition in Iraq to fight against ISIS. Currently, there are approximately 2,500 American soldiers stationed in the country whose main role is to provide guidance and support to Iraqi forces in their efforts to prevent ISIS from gaining power again.
There is growing anger in Baghdad regarding the U.S. attacks, which the Iraqi government frequently deems a breach of their sovereignty and a threat to their security.
Discussions between the United States and Iraq regarding the potential withdrawal of coalition troops began several weeks ago. However, these discussions were put on hold after an Iranian-supported militia killed American soldiers in Jordan. According to an Iraqi government representative, Baghdad has not yet reached a conclusive decision on whether to request the removal of U.S. forces.
During a recent phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed his support for restarting discussions regarding the presence of international military forces in Iraq.
However, the concern about the U.S. attacks is not just limited to Iraqi officials. The Iraqi public is also experiencing widespread and increasing anger towards the airstrikes.
Reuters/Ahmed Saad
On Thursday in Baghdad, a massive funeral was held for the militia leader who was killed, with participation from militia members and Iraqi government officials. During the ceremony, one of the commanders of the group promised to seek revenge for the leader’s death. The crowd in attendance echoed common slogans denouncing America and showing support for Iran.
An anonymous member of Iraq’s Parliament informed CBS News that the Revolutionary Guard of Iran is orchestrating the assaults on U.S. forces in an attempt to prompt the removal of American troops from the area.
According to a lawmaker who spoke with CBS News, the Iraqi government is currently involved in a conflict between U.S. and Iranian supporters. The recent attack, carried out by the U.S., is believed to aid these supporters in increasing their influence over the Iraqi government and potentially forcing the international coalition out of Iraq. The lawmaker also stated that Iran benefits from this ongoing war as it allows them to expand their influence and humiliate the U.S. in the region, ultimately pushing them out.
The government of Iran has consistently denied involvement in the attacks orchestrated by the groups it backs in the region, maintaining that they operate autonomously.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated on Jan. 29 that regional resistance factions are not instructed by Iran and that Iran does not meddle in their choices to back Palestine or protect themselves.
Reporting was provided by Margaret Brennan.
Source: cbsnews.com