RTFri, 13 Mar 2020 12:37 UTC
© AFP/Mohammed SawafIraqi soldiers stand guard at a Karbala airport, which was hit by US strikes, March 13, 2020.
Iraq's military has denounced American airstrikes on several targets inside the country that allegedly killed 3 Iraqi soldiers. Baghdad has also summoned US and British envoys to answer for the attacks.
The Iraqi foreign ministry said Friday that
it had demanded an audience with the US and British ambassadors over the incident, which Iraq says killed six people and wounded twelve.
Iraq's Joint Operations Command said in a statement issued on the same day that the strikes had been carried out using a "false pretext" and would lead to "escalation" rather than helping to bring stability to the war-torn country.
"This action is against the will of the Iraqi state and a violation of its sovereignty, it strengthens outlaws."The strongly-worded statement added that no party has the right to "substitute itself for the state."
The Pentagon claimed that it targeted "Iran-backed" militias in Iraq in retaliation for a deadly attack on Camp Taji near Baghdad.
A total of 18 rockets struck the base on Wednesday, killing two US troops and one member of the UK Royal Army Medical Corps.The Iraqi military statement said that three soldiers, two policemen and one civilian were killed in the so-called retaliatory US strikes. Baghdad claims that no paramilitary fighters died in the attack.
Comment: Iran tells Washington: Quit finger-pointing and
'grow up'
"The US cannot place the consequences of its illegal presence in Iraq and the reaction of Iraqi people to the assassination and killing of their commanders on others," Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said on Friday, as quoted by state media.
The Foreign Ministry official suggested that instead of engaging in "risky actions and baseless accusations," US President Donald Trump should "thoroughly review the presence and behavior of his troops in the region." He urged Washington to take responsibility for its foreign policy decision, and "avoid projection and accusations to justify irrational behavior."
Iraqi airport damaged in US strikes
Photos have emerged online showing the Karbala International Airport, expected to be Iraq's largest airport once completed, having been crippled by the US airstrike on Thursday night. The strike shattered windows in what appears to be one of the airport's main buildings, and debris could be seen scattered on the ground.
An airport official confirmed to Reuters that the facility sustained a direct hit from US forces.
Comment: Iran tells Washington: Quit finger-pointing and 'grow up' Iraqi airport damaged in US strikes