Baghdad— The Iraqi federal government on Tuesday condemned the retaliatory airstrikes conducted by United States forces against pro-Iran militia groups. The government stated that the strikes targeted Iraqi military bases, resulting in one fatality and 18 injuries.
These airstrikes were in response to a one-way drone attack by Iran-aligned militants on Monday, which left one U.S. service member in critical condition and injured two others. The Iraqi government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding diplomatic missions in the country, categorising attacks against them as "hostile acts".
However, it labelled the U.S. airstrikes as "unacceptable" and a "violation" of Iraq's sovereignty”.
The back-and-forth clash is the latest demonstration of how the Israel-Gaza war is rippling across the Middle East, creating turmoil that has turned U.S. troops at bases in Iraq and Syria into targets.
Iran-aligned groups in these regions oppose Israel's campaign in Gaza and partly hold the United States responsible for the situation.
Approximately 2,500 American troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria lead an international coalition through Operation Inherent Resolve. This coalition has supported Kurdish, Iraqi, and local Syrian forces in the fight against ISIS.
The terrorist organisation, which once controlled vast territories in Iraq and Syria, was declared territorially defeated in 2019.
