An Iraqi government spokesperson has accused the United States of violating international law and lying about the circumstances behind its retaliatory airstrikes, citing an attack in Jordan.
On Friday, U.S. military forces carried out strikes against Iran-backed terrorists in Syria and Iraq, which were retaliation for a drone strike last Sunday that killed three U.S. soldiers — Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett — and injured dozens more, including at least one who is in critical condition.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement about the retaliatory strikes, which read: “U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from the United States. The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions.”
CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria
At 4:00 p.m. (EST) Feb. 02, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces… pic.twitter.com/ZVx2uOQ1qD
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 2, 2024
In a social media post on Saturday, Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi declared that the strikes ordered by the Biden administration had killed 16 people and injured 25.
According to a translation from The Hill, Al-Awadi claimed that the U.S. had “deliberately deceived and falsified the facts, by announcing prior coordination to commit this aggression, which is a false claim aimed at misleading international public opinion and disavowing legal responsibility for this rejected crime in accordance with all international laws.”
“This aggressive strike will put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of the abyss, and it also contradicts efforts to establish the required stability,” he added.
“Iraq reiterates its refusal to let its lands be an arena for settling scores, and all parties must realize this. Our country’s land and sovereignty are not the appropriate place to send messages and show force between opponents,” Al-Awadi declared.
أقدمت الإدارة الأمريكية على ارتكاب عدوان جديد على سيادة العراق، إذ تعرضت مواقع تواجد قواتنا الأمنية، في منطقتي عكاشات والقائم، فضلاً عن الأماكن المدنية المجاورة، الى قصف من عدة طائرات أمريكية.
وأدى هذا العدوان السافر الى ارتقاء 16 شهيداً، بينهم مدنيون، إضافة الى 25 جريحا، كما… pic.twitter.com/4Bmy7hvYhZ
— المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) February 3, 2024
White House national security spokesman John Kirby has claimed that the retaliatory strikes were part of an effort to reduce the capabilities of terror groups, while at the same time sending a message to Iran to stop attacking U.S. forces. Kirby also asserted that the U.S. is not looking to start a war with Iran.
JUST IN: White House's John Kirby says there is no intent for war with Iran but there will be an appropriate response to the serious attack that killed three U.S. troops. WATCH pic.twitter.com/F7GkGA8oQs
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) January 29, 2024
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has been accused of telegraphing its planned strikes ahead of time, essentially giving the terrorists a heads-up that would allow some of them to escape. President Joe Biden is also facing criticism for being soft in his policies on Iran since taking office, allowing the terror-supporting nation to accumulate significant wealth and even directly giving money to Iran.
Biden gave SIX BILLION to Iran LAST OCTOBER.
An Iranian-backed militant group killed three Americans last week.
Biden has blood on his hands. pic.twitter.com/WgpbqPlTHi
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) February 3, 2024
