ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Iraq’s prime minister to pursue the attackers of US bases and troops in Iraq as anti-US attacks in Iraq spike against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, the State Department said on Tuesday.
Attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria have soared over the past week over Washington’s support for Israel in its war against Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Iran-backed militias have launched repeated rocket and drone strikes on bases in both countries where US troops are present as an integral part of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State (ISIS).
“The Secretary urged the Prime Minister to pursue those behind the attacks and fulfill Iraq’s commitment to maintain the security at the installations,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said about a Monday phone call between Blinken and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
On Monday, Sudani condemned the repeated strikes on bases hosting US troops in Iraq, stressing that Washington is in the country upon an official invitation from the Iraqi government to support and train security forces in the fight against ISIS. The condemnation came after the US updated its travel advisory to warn US citizens against traveling to Iraq.
“The Secretary welcomed the Government of Iraq’s condemnation of the recent attacks and threats to U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq,” Miller said.
Both officials also reiterated their commitment “to work together to ensure regional stability” while Blinken thanked Sudani “for Iraq’s efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza,” the statement added.
Washington on Monday accused Iran of “actively facilitating” attacks on American interests in Iraq and Syria, and said that the US has begun taking steps to ensure that it is capable to respond “decisively” to the strikes if needed.
“We know these groups are supported by the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and their regime. We know Iran continues to support Hamas and Hezbollah. And we know Iran is closely monitoring these events and, in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.
A group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.
On Wednesday, a US contractor died of a heart attack suffered while sheltering during an attack.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday said it had sent a fighter jet squadron to areas where US forces are present in the Middle East.
The 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft have arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to bolster U.S. posture to deter further aggression @USAFCENT pic.twitter.com/BaVakOd3uB
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 24, 2023
On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced new deployments to the Middle East “to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region.” He said the decision was made after a discussion with President Joe Biden about “recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region.”
