As many as 12 missiles struck Iraq's northern metropolis of Irbil on Sunday close to the U.S. consulate, Iraqi safety officers stated. A U.S. protection official stated missiles had been launched on the metropolis from neighboring Iran. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Division stated no accidents or casualties had been reported and there was …
As many as 12 missiles struck Iraq’s northern metropolis of Irbil on Sunday close to the U.S. consulate, Iraqi safety officers stated. A U.S. protection official stated missiles had been launched on the metropolis from neighboring Iran.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Division stated no accidents or casualties had been reported and there was no injury to the U.S. facility, which is new and at the moment unoccupied. One of many missiles struck close to the place the Kurdistan24 TV station broadcasts from. The station went on air shortly afterward and confirmed shattered glass and particles on their studio ground.
An Iraqi official in Baghdad at first stated a number of missiles had hit the U.S. consulate and that it was the goal of the assault. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the pinnacle of Kurdistan’s overseas media workplace, stated not one of the missiles hit the U.S. facility however that areas across the compound had been hit by the missiles.
A U.S. protection official informed The Related Press it was nonetheless not sure precisely what number of missiles had been fired and precisely the place they landed.
Iraqi safety officers informed AP there have been no fast studies of casualties from the assault, which they stated occurred shortly after midnight and triggered materials injury within the space. They spoke on situation of anonymity according to rules.
One of many Iraqi officers stated ballistic missiles had been fired from Iran, with out elaborating. The U.S. officers couldn’t verify the kind of missile.
The State Division spokesperson stated the assault was being investigated by the federal government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Authorities, saying that U.S. condemned the “outrageous assault in opposition to Iraqi sovereignty and show of violence,” the official stated in an announcement.
The assault got here a number of days after an Israeli strike close to Damascus, Syria, killed two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran’s overseas ministry strongly condemned the assault Wednesday and vowed revenge.
On Sunday, Iran’s state-run IRNA information company quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the assaults in Irbil, with out saying the place they originated.
A safety assertion stated Irbil was focused “with quite a few missiles” early Sunday, including that safety forces had been investigating the incident and would launch extra particulars later.
The assault got here as negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a “pause” over Russian calls for about sanctions focusing on Moscow over its warfare on Ukraine.
The highest U.S. commander for the Center East has repeatedly warned concerning the rising threats of assaults from Iran and Iranian-back militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.
In an interview with The Related Press in December, Marine Normal Frank McKenzie stated that whereas U.S. forces in Iraq have shifted to a non-combat position, Iran and its proxies nonetheless need all American troops to go away the nation. Because of this, he stated, which will set off extra assaults.’
The Biden administration determined final July to finish the U.S. fight mission in Iraq by December 31, and U.S. forces steadily moved to an advisory position final yr. The troops will nonetheless present air assist and different army help for Iraq’s battle in opposition to the Islamic State.
The U.S. presence in Iraq has lengthy been a flash level for Tehran, however tensions spiked after a January 2020 U.S. drone strike close to the Baghdad airport killed a prime Iranian common. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad airbase, the place U.S. troops had been stationed. Greater than 100 service members suffered traumatic mind accidents within the blasts.
Extra not too long ago, Iranian proxies are believed accountable for an assassination try late final yr on Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
And officers have stated they consider Iran was behind the October drone assault on the army outpost in southern Syria the place American troops are based mostly. No U.S. personnel had been killed or injured within the assault.
Al-Kadhimi tweeted: “The aggression which focused the expensive metropolis of Irbil and unfold concern amongst its inhabitants is an assault on the safety of our folks.”
Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled area, condemned the assault. In a Fb put up, he stated Irbil “won’t bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist assault.”
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