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US strikes Iran-backed militia in Iraq Iraq condemns 'irresponsible' US air strikes on Iran-backed groups
(about 4 hours later)
Fighters lift flags of Iraq and paramilitary groups, including Kataib Hezbollah, during a funeral for militants killed in a US strike in northern Iraq last monthFighters lift flags of Iraq and paramilitary groups, including Kataib Hezbollah, during a funeral for militants killed in a US strike in northern Iraq last month
The US says its forces have carried out strikes in Iraq on three facilities used by Iran-backed militia. The Iraqi government has strongly condemned US strikes which targeted sites used by Iranian-backed groups in Iraq on Wednesday.
The "proportionate" strikes targeted "Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups", Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said. A spokesperson for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said they "blatantly" violated his country's sovereignty.
He said the precision strikes were "in direct response" to attacks against US and coalition allies in Iraq and Syria. The US said its "proportionate" attacks had targeted "Iran-affiliated groups".
But a senior Iraqi official said they were a "flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty". The paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) said the "treacherous" US action killed one of their fighters.
Iraq's National Security Adviser Qassem al-Aaraji added that the US strikes did not help bring calm. The PMF, which is dominated by Iran-backed Shia Muslim militias, said a number of other fighters were injured in strikes on their bases in al-Qaim, a town on the Syrian border in western Anbar province, and in Jurf al-Nasr, in the central province of Babil.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said that "the US should pile on pressure for a halt to the Israeli offensive in Gaza rather than targeting and bombing the bases of an Iraqi national body". US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes on three facilities belonging to the Kataib Hezbollah militia and other groups were "in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks" against US and other international forces in Iraq and Syria.
He was referring to the alliance of Iran-backed former paramilitary groups, Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation force), which is now integrated in the regular armed forces. Major General Yehia Rasool, a spokesman for Prime Minister Sudani, said in a statement that the US action was "contributing to a reckless escalation".
Last week, a number of US military personnel were injured in a missile attack on an airbase in western Iraq. "This unacceptable act undermines years of co-operation... at a time when the region is already grappling with the danger of expanding conflict, the repercussions of the aggression on Gaza," he added, referring to the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
US officials said they were "undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries". He added that Iraq would treat the US operations "as acts of aggression" against its people on their land, and urged the international community to help restore peace.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Iraq national security adviser Qassem al-Aaraji said the US action would "not help bring calm".
He added that "the US should pile on pressure for a halt to the Israeli offensive in Gaza rather than targeting and bombing the bases of an Iraqi national body".
Understanding a week of missile strikes across the Middle EastUnderstanding a week of missile strikes across the Middle East
The US military's Central Command (CentCom) said at the time that an Iran-backed militia targeted the Al Asad airbase, which hosts American troops, with ballistic missiles and rockets. US personnel injured in missile attack on Iraq base
A group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for that attack. Last week, four US military personnel were injured in a ballistic missile and rocket attack on Iraq's Al Asad air base, in Anbar province.
The group emerged in late 2023 and is comprised of several Iran-affiliated armed groups operating in Iraq. It has claimed other attacks against US forces in recent weeks. The Pentagon said on Tuesday that they had returned to duty and that there was no significant damage to facilities.
In a statement, Mr Austin praised the "professionalism" of US military personnel in planning and conducting the latest strikes in Iraq as part of efforts "to further dismantle and degrade ISIS [the Islamic State group]." The US military's Central Command (Centcom) said an Iran-backed militia targeted the air base, which hosts American troops.
Mr Austin stressed that he and US President Joe Biden "will not hesitate to take necessary action" to defend American interests. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed it was behind that attack.
"We do not seek to escalate conflict in the region. We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities. We call on these groups and their Iranian sponsors to immediately cease these attacks," he said. The umbrella group emerged in late 2023 and is comprised of several Iran-affiliated militias operating in Iraq. It has claimed other attacks against US forces in recent weeks.
In a separate statement, CentCom said the strikes were carried out at 00:15 local time (21:15 GMT Tuesday) in response to the attack - among others - on Al Asad airbase in western Iraq on 20 January. Mr Austin said: "We do not seek to escalate conflict in the region. We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities."
"These strikes targeted [Kataib Hezbollah] headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities," CentCom said. "We call on these groups and their Iranian sponsors to immediately cease these attacks."
Missiles and rockets were fired at the Al Asad air base last Saturday
In a separate statement, Centcom said the strikes were carried out at 00:15 local time on Wednesday (21:15 GMT Tuesday).
"These strikes targeted [Kataib Hezbollah] headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities," it added, without mentioning their locations.
Kataib Hezbollah, or Brigades of the Party of God, is a powerful Iraqi Shia militia that receives financial and military support from Iran.Kataib Hezbollah, or Brigades of the Party of God, is a powerful Iraqi Shia militia that receives financial and military support from Iran.
It is believed to have strong links with Iran's Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.It is believed to have strong links with Iran's Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.
Since 2009, the US has designated the group as a terrorist organisation, accusing it of attacking US and Iraqi forces in Iraq on behalf of Iran, and of threatening the peace and stability of Iraq. Since 2009, the US has designated the group as a terrorist organisation, accusing it of attacking US and Iraqi forces in Iraq on behalf of Iran, and of threatening Iraq's stability.
After its latest strikes on Kataib Hezbollah, the US military provided no details on where in Iraq the targeted militia facilities were located. Saturday's attack on Al Asad air base followed a US drone strike in Baghdad earlier this month in which a high-ranking PMF commander was killed.
Missiles and rockets were fired at the Al Asad airbase last Saturday US troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked dozens of times by Iran-aligned fighters since the war in Gaza started in October.
Saturday's attack on Al Asad airbase followed a US drone strike in Baghdad earlier this month in which a pro-Iran militia leader was killed. The US and UK have also carried out strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement in response to its missile and drone attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
US troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked dozens of times by Iran-aligned militants since the Israel-Gaza war started in October. Meanwhile, Iran has carried out a number of missile strikes over the last week against targets in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan, which it claimed were linked to the Islamic State group, Israel and a Baloch separatist group respectively.
The US military and its allies - including the UK - have also intervened to stop Houthi missile attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. Last Saturday, Iran accused Israel of carrying out an air strike in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which killed five senior members of Iran's security forces.
Washington and London have carried out strikes against the Houthis - an Iran-backed rebel group controlling much of western Yemen.
On Wednesday, CentCom said US forces had conducted another round of strikes against two Houthi anti-ship missiles "that were aimed into the southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch".
"US forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region. US forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defence," CentCom added.
Red Sea 'scary' for ships' crews, says captain
The Iranian military has carried out a number of missile strikes over the last week against targets in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan.
Last Saturday, Iran accused Israel of carrying out an airstrike in the Syrian capital Damascus, which killed five senior members of Iran's security forces.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Middle East
Israel-Gaza warIsrael-Gaza war
Yemen
IranIran
Houthis
US Armed ForcesUS Armed Forces
IraqIraq
United StatesUnited States
Syria