Tehran, 17 January 2024 (TDI): In an unprecedented development, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have attacked Israel’s “spy headquarters” in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, escalating tensions in the Middle East and drawing international condemnation.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, reportedly declared that the military took action against Mossad-affiliated sites in Erbil and terrorist-affiliated bases in Idlib to defend the country’s sovereignty, security, and to counter terrorism.
He underscored that it had been part of the Islamic Republic’s fair retaliation for perpetrators of Iran’s sovereignty.
According to regional security council reports, on Tuesday morning, at least eight blasts occurred in Erbil, Iraq’s capital, resulting in four deaths and six injuries.
Additionally, “ballistic missiles were used to destroy espionage centers and gatherings of anti-Iranian terrorist groups in the region,” the IRGC claimed, stating that 11 missiles were fired.
Iraq denounces Iran’s aggression
Moreover, the government of Iraq denounces Iran’s aggression towards Erbil, including the bombardment of populated residential regions with ballistic missiles that resulted in civilian deaths.
The Iraqi government condemned the act as a violation of good neighborliness, resulting in the killing of Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee, injuries to his family, and a severe assault on Iraq’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.
In reaction to the disaster in the Kurdistan region, the Prime Minister has appointed a group led by the National Security Advisor to analyze the attack, collect key evidence, and strengthen the government’s international legal standing.
US condemns reckless attacks
Additionally, the US State Department condemned the bombings near Erbil as “reckless.” However, no US installations had been targeted, and there were no reported US fatalities.
Adrienne Watson, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, issued a statement in response to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ missile attacks.
She said, “We observed the reports and monitored the missiles that impacted northern Iraq and northern Syria.”
She added, We have spoken with senior Iraqi and Kurdish officials. Iran claims this is in retaliation for terrorist strikes in Kerman and Rask, Iran, with an emphasis on ISIS.”
“We will continue to analyze the situation, but early indications suggest that this was a reckless and imprecise set of attacks.”
She ended by stating, “The United States supports Iraq’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
Also Read: US condemns attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Iran’s justification and international response
Prior to this month, the Islamic State militants acknowledged being behind two bombs in Iran’s southern Kerman city, which killed almost 100 individuals and injured many more at a memorial to their top commander, Qassem Soleimani.
According to reports, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi criticized the “heinous and inhumane crime,” while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei expressed revenge for the two disastrous attacks.
In this context, Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani described and criticized the incident as “vicious, unjustifiable attacks on Erbil” and stated that we agreed that these actions were a clear infringement of Iraqi sovereignty.
Additionally, he stated, “I called on the US and international community not to stay silent in the face of aggression against innocent civilians.”
Iran’s foreign minister, Nasser Kanaani, added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran always supports peace, stability, and security in the area, as well as respect for countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
