Iraqi officials expressed strong condemnation following an overnight U.S. drone strike in Baghdad, which resulted in the death of a senior commander of an Iran-backed militia. The strike was in response to an attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that claimed the lives of three US troops.
The Iraqi Armed Forces criticized the strike, labeling it a “blatant assassination” and accusing the U.S. of disregarding civilian lives and international laws. They also voiced concerns over the destabilizing influence of U.S. and allied troops in the region.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed the strike, stating it targeted a Kata’ib Hezbollah commander responsible for planning and executing attacks on U.S. forces in the area. The military claimed there were no civilian casualties.
Escalation of Retaliatory Attacks
This strike is part of a series of retaliatory actions against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. Concurrently, the U.S. and the U.K. have launched strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea.
These groups justify their attacks as support for Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Heightened Tensions and Calls for Withdrawal
Tensions have escalated with more than 170 attacks on U.S. forces since October, prompting anger among Iraqi officials and the public. Talks between the U.S. and Iraq regarding the withdrawal of coalition forces were paused after the recent attack on the U.S. base in Jordan.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein urged a resumption of talks on the future presence of international military forces in Iraq during a recent call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Iranian Influence and Iraqi Government’s Dilemma
There are allegations that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is behind the attacks, aiming to pressure the Iraqi government to expel U.S. forces from the region. Iraqi officials are caught in the middle of this conflict between the U.S. and Iranian proxies, with growing public resentment towards U.S. actions.
Iran has denied direct involvement in the attacks, stating that regional resistance factions act independently.
As tensions persist, Iraq faces the challenge of navigating its relationship with both the U.S. and Iran while addressing the security concerns and demands of its citizens.
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