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AP
BAGHDAD — Iran claimed duty Sunday for a missile barrage that struck close to a sprawling U.S. consulate advanced within the northern Iraqi metropolis of Irbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard earlier this week.
No accidents have been reported in Sunday’s assault on the town of Irbil, which marked a big escalation between the U.S. and Iran. Hostility between the longtime foes has typically performed out in Iraq, whose authorities is allied with each nations.
Iran’s highly effective Revolutionary Guard mentioned on its web site that it attacked what it described as an Israeli spy middle in Irbil. It didn’t elaborate, however in an announcement mentioned Israel had been on the offensive, citing the latest strike that killed two members of the Revolutionary Guard. The semi-official Tasnim information company quoted an unnamed supply as saying Iran fired 10 Fateh missiles, together with a number of Fateh-110 missiles, which have a spread of about 300 kilometers (186 miles).
The supply mentioned the assault resulted in a number of casualties and mentioned the principle goal for the missiles was the “Zionist base, which is way from the American navy base.”
An Iraqi official in Baghdad initially mentioned a number of missiles had hit the U.S. consulate in Irbil, the supposed goal of the assault. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the pinnacle of Kurdistan’s international media workplace, mentioned not one of the missiles had struck the U.S. facility however that residential areas across the compound had been hit.
In a Twitter submit, he mentioned the shortage of response from the worldwide group to repeated assaults by Iran on Kurdistan “is of nice concern” and was encouraging future assaults by Tehran.
A U.S. protection official mentioned the strike was launched from neighboring Iran, and that it was nonetheless unsure what number of missiles have been fired and the place they landed. A second U.S. official mentioned there was no harm at any U.S. authorities facility and that there was no indication the goal was the consulate constructing, which is new and unoccupied.
Neither the Iraqi official nor the U.S. officers have been approved to debate the occasion with the media and spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity.
Satellite tv for pc broadcast channel Kurdistan24, which is positioned close to the U.S. consulate, went on air from their studio shortly after the assault, exhibiting shattered glass and particles on their studio ground.
Vahid Reza Alaei/Iranian Protection Ministry through AP
The assault got here a number of days after Iran mentioned it could retaliate for an Israeli strike close to Damascus, Syria, that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard. On Sunday, Iran’s state-run IRNA information company quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the assaults in Irbil, with out saying the place they originated.
The assault comes throughout elevated tensions
The missile barrage coincided with regional tensions. Negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a “pause” over Russian calls for about sanctions focusing on Moscow for its conflict on Ukraine. In the meantime, Iran suspended its secret Baghdad-brokered talks geared toward defusing yearslong tensions with regional rival Saudi Arabia, after Saudi Arabia carried out its largest identified mass execution in its fashionable historical past with over three dozens Shiites killed.
The Iraqi safety officers mentioned there have been no casualties from the Irbil assault, which they mentioned occurred after midnight and brought about materials harm within the space. They spoke on situation of anonymity according to rules.
One of many Iraqi officers mentioned the ballistic missiles have been fired from Iran, with out elaborating. He mentioned the Iranian-made Fateh-110 missiles probably have been fired in retaliation for the 2 Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Matthew Tueller, mentioned the U.S. condemns the prison assault on civilian targets in Irbil. “Iranian regime parts have claimed duty for this assault and have to be held accountable for this flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty,” he mentioned in an announcement posted by the U.S. consulate in Irbil.
U.S. forces stationed at Irbil’s airport compound have come underneath hearth from rocket and drone assaults prior to now, with U.S. officers blaming Iran-backed teams.
The highest U.S. commander for the Center East has repeatedly warned concerning the rising threats of assaults from Iran and Iranian-backed militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.
In an interview with The Related Press in December, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie mentioned that whereas U.S. forces in Iraq have shifted to a non-combat position, Iran and its proxies nonetheless need all American troops to depart the nation. Consequently, he mentioned, that will set off extra assaults.
The Biden administration determined final July to finish the U.S. fight mission in Iraq by Dec. 31, and U.S. forces steadily moved to an advisory position final yr. The troops will nonetheless present air help and different navy assist for Iraq’s struggle towards 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 high Iranian normal. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad airbase, the place U.S. troops have been stationed. Greater than 100 service members suffered traumatic mind accidents within the blasts.
Extra not too long ago, Iranian proxies are believed chargeable for an assassination try late final yr on Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
And officers have mentioned they consider Iran was behind the October drone assault on the navy outpost in southern Syria the place American troops are based mostly. No U.S. personnel have 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 individuals.”
Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled area, condemned the assault. In a Fb submit, he mentioned Irbil “won’t bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist assault.”
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