Iraq summons US and Iranian envoys over deadly attacks

Iraqi Government to Deliver Formal Notes of Protest Over Recent Strikes

The Iraqi government plans to deliver formal notes of protest to the US and Iranian envoys in Iraq, according to a statement from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s office on Tuesday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also lodge a complaint at the United Nations Security Council regarding acts of aggression against Iraqi territory.

Recent strikes have targeted the headquarters of the army’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Anbar province and the Kurdistan Regional Guard headquarters in Erbil, resulting in significant loss of life and damage. The PMF is a branch of the Iraqi army that includes some Iran-aligned armed groups.

The Iraqi presidency has condemned the attack on the PMF’s command headquarters in Anbar, which killed at least 15 people, including the regional operations commander. Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdish region have also denounced an Iranian attack on their forces, killing six people and wounding 30 others.

The National Security Council has agreed to respond to military attacks targeting the PMF and branches of the Iraqi armed forces, citing the right to self-defense and response. The decision was made following unjustified attacks and grave violations of Iraqi sovereignty.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has entered its fourth week, with no signs of abatement despite growing calls for de-escalation. Iraq is among several countries in the region affected by this conflict.

Source: Al Jazeera