The office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reported that sixteen individuals, including civilians, were killed and twenty-five injured in American bombings on pro-Iranian sites in Iraq while the country was asleep.
Overnight U.S. airstrikes on pro-Iran targets in Iraq resulted in a tragic toll, with 16 individuals, including civilians, losing their lives and 25 others sustaining injuries, as reported by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office on Saturday.
In a strongly worded statement, the Prime Minister's office condemned the airstrikes, labeling them as a "new aggression against Iraq's sovereignty." Additionally, it categorically rejected any suggestions that these strikes were coordinated in advance between the Baghdad government and Washington, dismissing such claims as outright "lies."
The statement from the Prime Minister's office emphasized that the U.S.-led military coalition's presence in the region has now become a destabilizing factor, posing a threat to Iraq's security and stability. Furthermore, it was argued that the coalition's existence is being used as a pretext for involving Iraq in various regional and international conflicts.
The incident underscores the complex dynamics and challenges faced by Iraq, caught in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions. The loss of civilian lives in these airstrikes adds to the human cost of such actions and raises concerns about the impact on Iraq's stability and security.
The Prime Minister's strong condemnation highlights the sensitivity of Iraq's sovereignty and the necessity for international actors to respect the nation's autonomy. The denial of coordination with Washington underscores the complexities of military actions in the region and the potential fallout for Iraq's internal affairs.
As Iraq continues to grapple with the aftermath of these airstrikes, the incident is likely to fuel discussions about the role of foreign military forces in the region, the implications for Iraq's sovereignty, and the imperative for diplomatic solutions to mitigate further escalations.
