Iraqi Officials Condemn U.S. Drone Strike Killing Iran-Backed Militia Commander
In a recent turn of events, Iraqi officials have strongly condemned a U.S. drone strike that took place in Baghdad, resulting in the death of a senior commander of an Iran-backed militia. This militia is suspected of carrying out an attack on a U.S. base in Jordan, which claimed the lives of three American troops. The strike has been labeled as a “blatant assassination” by a spokesperson for the Iraqi Armed Forces, who also criticized the U.S. for its destabilizing influence in the country.
The U.S. military’s Central Command has confirmed that the strike was conducted in response to the attacks on U.S. service members. The statement released by the Central Command stated that the strike targeted a Kata’ib Hezbollah commander who was responsible for planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region. The statement also mentioned that there were no indications of collateral damage or civilian casualties resulting from the strike.
However, the Iraqi Armed Forces spokesperson, Yehia Rasool, strongly criticized the U.S., accusing it of conducting a blatant assassination without regard for civilian lives or international laws. Rasool also expressed concerns about the destabilizing influence of the U.S.-led international military coalition in Iraq, stating that it has become a factor of instability in the country.
This U.S. strike is just one in a series of retaliatory attacks against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. These attacks have coincided with strikes by the U.S. and the U.K. against Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been launching drones and missiles at ships in the Red Sea. The militias and the Houthis claim that their attacks are in support of the Palestinian people amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria targeted more than 85 locations linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the militias supported by the Guard. These strikes were carried out in retaliation for the deadly attack on the U.S. base in Jordan. Since the war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’ terror attack on Israel, Iran-backed groups have been increasingly targeting U.S. bases with rocket and drone attacks. While most of these attacks have caused little damage, the attack on the Tower 22 base in Jordan resulted in fatalities.
The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq was established in 2014 with the aim of combating ISIS. Currently, there are approximately 2,500 U.S. troops deployed in Iraq, primarily to advise and assist local Iraqi forces in preventing the resurgence of ISIS.
The U.S. strikes have sparked anger in Baghdad, with the Iraqi government often accusing them of violating the country’s sovereignty and destabilizing its security. Talks between the U.S. and Iraq regarding a potential future withdrawal of coalition forces had started prior to the recent attacks. However, these talks were paused after the Iranian-backed militia killed U.S. soldiers in Jordan. The Iraqi government has yet to make a final decision on whether to call for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has advocated for the resumption of talks on the future of international military forces in Iraq during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. However, it is not just Iraqi officials who are uneasy about the U.S. strikes. There is also growing fury among the Iraqi public over these attacks.
During a funeral ceremony for the slain militia leader, large crowds chanted “death to America” and other refrains commonly heard in Iran and among its supporters. One member of Iraq’s Parliament, speaking anonymously, claimed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is directing the attacks against U.S. forces in order to pressure the Iraqi government into pushing the international coalition out of Iraq. The lawmaker also suggested that Iran needs this war to spread in order to embarrass the U.S. and force them out of the region.
Iran’s government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks carried out by the groups it supports, stating that these groups act independently. They have emphasized that Iran does not interfere in the decisions of these groups to support Palestine or defend themselves.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The U.S. strikes have undoubtedly sparked outrage among Iraqi officials and the public, further complicating the already delicate relationship between Iraq and the U.S. The future of international military forces in Iraq hangs in the balance, and the repercussions of these recent events could have far-reaching consequences for the region as a whole.