Iraq Parliament Deputy: Israel’s Presence in Iraq is a Pretext

Baghdad has summoned the ambassador of the Islamic Republic, and the United States is reporting on strengthening missile defense systems in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Iraq’s parliament deputy stated in an interview with Deutsche Welle that the IRGC’s action means nothing other than an attack on the territory of a neighboring country.

Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the ambassador of the Islamic Republic in Baghdad to deliver a protest note regarding Iran’s missile attack on Erbil. On the other hand, the US and Egyptian foreign ministries condemned Iran’s missile strike. The United States said it is strengthening its allies’ anti-missile defense systems.

At one o’clock in the morning on March 22, 1401 (March 13, 2023), 12 ballistic missiles were fired from east of Iraq’s borders toward the newly built building of the American Consulate in Erbil.

Shortly after this attack, the public relations office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had targeted Israel’s “strategic center” in Erbil, located in northern Iraq, with its “powerful and precision-guided missiles,” stating that the reason for this action was “retaliation for Israel’s recent crimes.”

On March 8, 1401 (February 27, 2023), Iran officially confirmed that two IRGC officers were killed in Israel’s latest aerial attack near Damascus.

Soran Omar, a member of Iraq’s parliament, told Deutsche Welle Farsi in this regard: “The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is a land of coexistence of different religions and ethnicities. The IRGC says that with this missile attack, it was seeking revenge for its commanders killed in Syria. If that were the case, they should have fired the missiles elsewhere.”

Shakhawan Abdullah, deputy speaker of Iraq’s parliament, said in an interview with Deutsche Welle Farsi while condemning the Islamic Republic’s missile attack on Erbil: “The IRGC has taken responsibility for the attack. This formally means Iran has attacked the territory of a neighboring country.”

Regarding the IRGC’s claim of targeting Israel’s “strategic center,” the deputy speaker of Iraq’s parliament told Deutsche Welle Farsi: “Israel has no presence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iraqi official authorities have repeatedly emphasized this point. Israel’s presence is only a pretext for weakening the autonomous government of the region. This Iranian action is frightening and dangerous.”

Shakhawan Abdullah, referring to the formal note from Iraq’s Foreign Ministry demanding clarification from Iran, recalled that these attacks will be followed by regional and international reactions.

Iraq’s National Security Council, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, announced that it is seeking clear and transparent explanations from Iran through diplomatic channels regarding the missile bombardment of Erbil.

The Kurdistan Region’s Council of Ministers also issued a statement saying that the “cowardly” missile attack, under the pretext of targeting an Israeli center near the American Consulate, had targeted civilian areas.

Strengthening Anti-Missile Defense for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region

Jake Sullivan, the United States’ National Security Advisor, while condemning the IRGC’s missile attacks on Erbil, said the United States is collecting evidence to determine the exact target of this attack.

He added that he is in negotiations with the government of Iraq and the government of the Kurdistan Region to strengthen their anti-missile defense.

According to Sullivan, no American personnel were harmed in this attack.

The US State Department, in a statement, demanded that Iran immediately cease its attacks and respect Iraq’s territorial integrity. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry also issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the missile attack on Erbil without naming the Islamic Republic, calling it “cowardly and terrorist.”

According to Kurdistan Region officials, Iranian missiles landed around the newly built American Consulate building and caused damage to at least 200 homes. A local television transmitter was also damaged.

Source: DW