An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq has vowed to retaliate after US airstrikes killed at least 30 of its fighters and destroyed bases in an escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iran accused the United States of “an act of terrorism “over the attacks, even as Washington warned it was ready to launch more offensive action to defend its personnel and interests.
F – 19 war planes struck three targets linked to the Kataib Hezbollah militia in western Iraq and two across the border in Syria on Sunday.
the militant group’s headquarters in the Iraqi border district of al Qaim was hit, along with other bases and weapons storage facilities.
Drone footage released by the US military showed the impact of the strikes in western Iraq.
US officials said the move was in response to rocket attacks on a military base in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday, which left a US contractor dead.
It triggered a furious response from Kataib Hezbollah’s founder – one of Iran’s most powerful allies in Iraq.
“The blood of the martyrs will not be in vain and our response will be very tough on the American forces in Iraq,” Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi, who is known by his nom de guerre Abu Mahdi al Mohandes, said in a statement.
He is also a senior commander in Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella grouping of paramilitary units – including Kataib Hezbollah – that has been integrated into the armed forces.
Iraqi security sources told Reuters that US forces in Iraq northerly Nineveh province were ramping up security overnight, with US-led coalition jets circling the perimeter of its military bases in Mosul and Qayarah.
US troops and Iranian-backed militias have largely avoided direct confrontation in Iraq over the past five years as they both fought a common enemy in Islamic State.
But a growing, global standoff between Washington and Tehran over Iranian nuclear ambitions could see a flare up in hostilities on the ground in Iraq where both countries have a lot of interests, personnel and influence.
With ** Iraqi government also in crisis after months of public protests, it is a particularly vulnerable time in an already unstable country.
More than 5, 06 US military personnel are based in Iraq as well as some 728 British forces.
President Donald Trump discussed the Iranian threat to forces in Iraq during a meeting with Mr Esper, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and General Mark Milley, the top US military officer, on Sunday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Pompeo accused Iranian-backed forces of having targeted facilities in Iraq housing US personnel for weeks.
“What we did was take a decisive response that makes clear what President Trump has said for months and months and months, which is that we will not stand for the Islamic Republic of Iran to take actions that put American men and women in jeopardy, “he told reporters.
Iran has denied any involvement in such attacks.
“We strongly deny any role in the attack on American forces. This claim without any evidence cannot justify bombing and killing people in violation of international law, “said Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei, quoted by the semi-official news agency Fars.
A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry condemned the US airstrikes as an” clear case of terrorism “and called on Washington to respect Iraqi territorial integrity.
Speaking on a trip to Moscow, Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said: “The recent actions by Americans in Iraq are unacceptable.
) “Americans do it, but Iran and Russia put efforts to establish peace both in Syria and in Iraq.”
Since October (*****************************************, at least attacks have targeted Iraqi military bases where US military personnel or diplomats are deployed.
While earlier attac ks killed an Iraqi soldier and wounded others, the one on Friday was the first to kill an American, targeting a meeting between Iraqi police commanders and the international coalition that fought IS.
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