Iraq demands answers from Iran over attack

BAGHDAD－Iraq on Sunday demanded a "frank and clear explanation" from Iran about a ballistic missile attack on the capital of its semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Earlier on Sunday, Iran claimed responsibility for a missile barrage that struck in Erbil near a sprawling US consulate complex in northern Iraq, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard Corps last week.

US officials said no US citizens were hurt and nor were US facilities hit. Kurdish authorities said only one civilian was hurt and no one killed.

The Iraqi Ministerial Council for National Security, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, held an emergency meeting to discuss the Iranian missile attack, which came against "the principle of good neighborliness between Iraq and Iran, as well as a violation of international laws and norms", according to a statement by the ministerial council.

"Iraq has requested, through diplomatic channels, frank and clear explanations from the Iranian side, and is awaiting a position from the Iranian political leadership in rejecting the aggression."

Ambassador summoned

Iraq's Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned Iran's ambassador to protest over the attack.

The attack has "caused damage to civilian facilities and homes of citizens, in addition to spreading fear among the residents of those areas", the ministry said in a statement.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said on its website that it attacked what it described as an Israeli spy center in Erbil. It did not elaborate, but in a statement said Israel had been on the offensive, citing the strike on March 9 that killed two members of the Revolutionary Guard.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the allegations or the Iranian missile barrage.

The attack also came several days after Iran said it would retaliate for an Israeli strike near Damascus, Syria, that killed the two members of the Revolutionary Guard. On Sunday, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the attacks in Erbil, without saying where they originated.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday condemned the strike while vowing that Washington will help boost Iraq's missile capabilities.

Sullivan told CBS that no US citizens were harmed in the attack, and no US facilities were hit.

The administration of US President Joe Biden decided last July to end the US combat mission in Iraq by Dec 31, and US forces gradually moved to an advisory role last year. But the troops will still provide air support and other military aid for Iraq's fight against the Islamic State militant group.

The US presence in Iraq has long been a flashpoint for Teheran, but tensions spiked after a US drone strike near Baghdad's airport killed a top Iranian general in January 2020.

Some observers said Sunday's attack was in retaliation against Israel and not aimed at the US.

"Iran had carried out attacks against American targets and did not shy away from publicizing this," said Hamidreza Azizi, visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

"I see this more as a warning sign to Israel and a show of force in the negotiations."

Xinhua - Agencies