Iran claimed accountability Sunday for a missile barrage that struck close to a sprawling US consulate complicated within the northern Iraqi metropolis of Irbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard earlier this week.
No accidents had been reported in Sunday’s assault on the town of Irbil, which marked a major escalation between the US and Iran. Hostility between the longtime foes has typically performed out in Iraq, whose authorities is allied with each international locations.
Iran’s highly effective Revolutionary Guard mentioned on its web site that it attacked what it described as an Israeli spy middle in Irbil. It didn’t elaborate, however in a press release mentioned Israel had been on the offensive, citing the current strike that killed two members of the Revolutionary Guard. The semi-official Tasnim information company quoted an unnamed supply as saying Iran fired 10 Fateh missiles, together with a number of Fateh-110 missiles, which have a spread of about 300 kilometers (186 miles).
The supply mentioned the assault resulted in a number of casualties and mentioned the principle goal for the missiles was the “Zionist base, which is far from the American military base.”
An Iraqi official in Baghdad initially mentioned a number of missiles had hit the US consulate in Irbil, the supposed goal of the assault. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the pinnacle of Kurdistan’s international media workplace, mentioned not one of the missiles had struck the US facility however that residential areas across the compound had been hit.
In a Twitter put up, he mentioned the dearth of response from the worldwide neighborhood to repeated assaults by Iran on Kurdistan “is of great concern” and was encouraging future assaults by Tehran.
Iran has been focusing on #Kurdistan Region a number of instances and the no-reactions from the worldwide neighborhood is of nice considerations and this silence from the worldwide neighborhood is motivating for extra future assaults.
Statement by Kurdistan Regional Government
— Lawk Ghafuri (@LawkGhafuri) March 13, 2022
A US protection official mentioned the strike was launched from neighboring Iran, and that it was nonetheless unsure what number of missiles had been fired and the place they landed. A second US official mentioned there was no harm at any US authorities facility and that there was no indication the goal was the consulate constructing, which is new and unoccupied.
Neither the Iraqi official nor the US officers had been approved to debate the occasion with the media and spoke to The Associated Press on situation of anonymity.
Satellite broadcast channel Kurdistan24, which is positioned close to the US consulate, went on air from their studio shortly after the assault, displaying shattered glass and particles on their studio ground.
The assault got here a number of days after Iran mentioned it might retaliate for an Israeli strike close to Damascus, Syria, that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard. On Sunday, Iran’s state-run IRNA information company quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the assaults in Irbil, with out saying the place they originated.
The missile barrage coincided with regional tensions. Negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a “pause” over Russian calls for about sanctions focusing on Moscow for its struggle on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Iran suspended its secret Baghdad-brokered talks aimed toward defusing yearslong tensions with regional rival Saudi Arabia, after Saudi Arabia carried out its largest identified mass execution in its fashionable historical past with over three dozens of Shiites killed.
The Iraqi safety officers mentioned there have been no casualties from the Irbil assault, which they mentioned occurred after midnight and induced materials harm within the space. They spoke on situation of anonymity in step with rules.
One of the Iraqi officers mentioned the ballistic missiles had been fired from Iran, with out elaborating. He mentioned the Iranian-made Fateh-110 missiles had been possible fired in retaliation for the 2 Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria.
This photograph launched Sept. 21, 2010, by the Iranian Defense Ministry, claims to indicate the upgraded surface-to-surface Fateh-110 missile at an undisclosed location, in Tehran, Iran. (AP)
The US ambassador to Iraq, Mathew Tueller, mentioned the US condemns the prison assault on civilian targets in Irbil. “Iranian regime elements have claimed responsibility for this attack and must be held accountable for this flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty,” he mentioned in a press release posted by the US consulate in Irbil.
US forces stationed at Irbil’s airport compound have come underneath fireplace from rocket and drone assaults prior to now, with US officers blaming Iran-backed teams.
The high US commander for the Middle East has repeatedly warned concerning the growing threats of assaults from Iran and Iranian-backed militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.
In an interview with The Associated Press in December, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie mentioned that whereas US forces in Iraq have shifted to a non-combat function, Iran and its proxies nonetheless need all American troops to go away the nation. As a outcome, he mentioned, that will set off extra assaults.’
The Biden administration determined final July to finish the US fight mission in Iraq by Dec. 31, and US forces step by step moved to an advisory function final 12 months. The troops will nonetheless present air help and different army support for Iraq’s battle towards the Islamic State.
The US presence in Iraq has lengthy been a flash level for Tehran, however tensions spiked after a January 2020 US drone strike close to the Baghdad airport killed a high Iranian normal. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad airbase, the place US troops had been stationed. More than 100 service members suffered traumatic mind accidents within the blasts.
More not too long ago, Iranian proxies are believed chargeable for an assassination try late final 12 months on Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
And officers have mentioned they imagine Iran was behind the October drone assault on the army outpost in southern Syria the place American troops are primarily based. No US personnel had been killed or injured within the assault.
Al-Kadhimi tweeted: “The aggression which targeted the dear city of Irbil and spread fear amongst its residents is an attack on the security of our people.”
Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled area, condemned the assault. In a Facebook put up, he mentioned Irbil “will not bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist attack.”
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
