Iraqi Foreign Ministry Summons Islamic Republic Ambassador in Baghdad; Continued Reactions to IRGC Missile Attack on Erbil

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned the ambassador of the Islamic Republic in Baghdad in protest of a missile attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

Iraq’s official government news agency reported on Sunday, citing the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, that Baghdad has issued a protest note to Iran’s ambassador.

The missile attacks on Erbil early Sunday morning, for which the IRGC claimed responsibility, have faced widespread reactions so far.

In one of the latest reactions, Germany on Sunday condemned the IRGC’s missile attacks on Erbil by issuing a statement.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry emphasized in this statement Berlin’s continued support for Iraq’s sovereignty and the country’s unity and stability in the fight against ISIS.

The ministry concluded its statement by calling attacks on diplomatic staff, representatives, and facilities belonging to the international coalition fighting ISIS “unacceptable” and added that the perpetrators should be held accountable.

White House National Security Advisor on Sunday, March 12, while condemning “this Iranian attack,” said: “We are still gathering information about what exactly the target of the attack was.”

Jake Sullivan, in an interview with CBS network, emphasized that the United States has always clearly stated that it will do whatever is necessary to defend its people and interests.

Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, and Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Muhammad al-Halbousi, and Barham Salih, the heads of Iraq’s three branches of government, also called this attack “terrorist” and condemned it.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry, while condemning the attack, called for adopting a “unified stance” to confront it or any action aimed at promoting chaos.

The US Ambassador to Iraq also condemned the “criminal attack on civilian targets” in Erbil.

Matthew Tueller on Sunday issued a statement declaring that “elements of the Iranian regime” claimed responsibility for this attack and should be held accountable for “this blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty and for terrorist attacks against the property of innocent civilians.”

It is worth noting that following the IRGC’s statement accepting responsibility for the missile attack on Erbil, the Persian section of Voice of America requested a response from the US State Department. Voice of America will publish the response as soon as it receives it.

The Office of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region also issued a strongly-worded statement, describing this action as an attack on residential areas “under the pretext of targeting an Israeli base,” and said “This is the umpteenth time that Iran repeats these violations, and the international community’s silence in the face of this barbaric attack will pave the way for such crimes.”

France also announced on Sunday that the missile attack on Erbil threatens efforts to conclude negotiations on reviving the JCPOA.

France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, while stating that these attacks threaten Iraq’s and the region’s stability, emphasized the necessity of finalizing negotiations to revive the JCPOA.

The Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf also condemned the “terrorist missile attack” on Erbil.

While expressing solidarity with the people of Iraq in their struggle against terrorism and in line with increasing their country’s security and stability, he rejected terrorism and extremism in all its forms.

Egypt also condemned the IRGC’s missile attack on Erbil. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, in issuing a statement while declaring solidarity with Iraq, announced that it supports all Iraqi measures to protect their country’s security and stability.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the missile attack on Erbil by issuing a statement. The statement reads: “Such attacks that target peace and stability in Iraq are completely unacceptable.” In another section of the statement, it was stated that Turkey will continue to stand with the Iraqi people in the “fight against terrorism.”

Earlier, the Governor of Erbil in a statement to Voice of America said that the attack on Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, targeted several points that resulted in no casualties, but caused material damage to the “Kurdistan 24” television channel and some other locations. Omeed Khuishnaw, Governor of Erbil, told the Kurdish section of Voice of America that the target of the attack on Erbil was consulates, but “these attacks did not hit their targets.” He called these attacks “terrorist” and clarified that counter-terrorism and security organizations are investigating these air attacks.

Hours after the news of these attacks was published, a spokesperson for the US State Department, in response to a question from Farhad Poulladi, correspondent for the Persian section of Voice of America, while condemning the attack as “an unjust attack and a display of violence,” said: “There is no damage or casualties at any of the United States government facilities. This incident is being reviewed by the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, and we refer you to them for comment.”

The IRGC, hours after this attack, claimed responsibility for it by issuing a statement.

In this statement issued Sunday afternoon, without mentioning the name “Erbil,” it stated that the IRGC’s “precision” missiles targeted the “Zionists'” strategic center.

Source: Voice of America