Iraq Takes Stand Against Iran: Recalls Ambassador and Condemns Missile Strikes
Iraq condemns Iranian missile strikes in Kurdish region, challenges Iran's claims, recalls ambassador from Tehran, and plans to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council.
Iraq has taken a bold step in rebuking its ally Iran after deadly missile strikes targeted its autonomous Kurdish region. The Iraqi government challenged Iran's claim that the strikes were targeting Israel's intelligence services in response to recent Israeli assassinations of Iranian and pro-Iranian commanders. The Iraqi government is prepared to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council over the Iranian attack on its sovereignty. Iraq has recalled its ambassador from Tehran and summoned Iran's envoy in Baghdad in response to the missile strikes.
Iraq has recalled its ambassador from Tehran as it has understood the magnitude of the threat. I hope that we, in the UK, come to the same conclusion and save the lives of British diplomats. This is a serious warning which I am repeating!#IRGCterroristshttps://t.co/2JUAUFOkP9
— Vahid Beheshti (@Vahid_Beheshti) January 16, 2024
Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani called the strikes a clear act of aggression that could undermine relations between the two allies. The Kurdish region's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and condemned the attacks as unjustified and illegal, calling on the international community not to remain silent. The missile strikes left four people dead, including a prominent real estate magnate, and six wounded in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraq's National Security Adviser dismissed Iran's claim that it targeted an Israeli intelligence base, stating that it struck a businessman's family home.
The US State Department also condemned the "reckless" Iranian strikes, saying they undermined Iraq's stability. The tensions in the region have been high as Israel battles Iran ally Hamas. Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq and Syria have carried out a spate of attacks on military bases, drawing missile strikes from the US in response. The Kurdistan region has seen a surge of unrest since the unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel, prompting devastating Israeli retaliation.
It is evident that the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, with Iran defending its missile strikes as just punishment against those who breach its security. As the international community watches these events unfold, it is clear that the ongoing conflicts in the region are causing grave concern for the stability and security of the affected countries.