BAGHDAD: Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, on Saturday warned the United States against any “attack” on Iraqi territory. The warning comes in the wake of renewed hostilities in the Israel-Hamas conflict, raising concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict.
The message from Prime Minister Sudani was conveyed during a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Earlier, US fighter jets struck two targets in Iraq on November 22, resulting in the killing of nine people. The Pentagon stated that the strikes were a response to a short-range ballistic missile fired at US and allied personnel by fighters in a vehicle.
Attacks on US Forces in Iraq and Syria
Pentagon officials revealed that US forces in Iraq and Syria had faced at least 74 attacks, a surge believed to be linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Sudani, during the call with Blinken, categorically rejected “any attack on Iraqi territory” and affirmed the Iraqi government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of international coalition advisers present in Iraq.
On November 25, the head of the Hezbollah Brigades announced a reduction in the intensity of operations against American troops in the Middle East until the end of the truce between Israel and Hamas. With the truce expiring on Friday, hostilities between Hamas and Israel resumed, marking a critical development in the regional dynamics.
It’s worth noting that the Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that there were no attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria during the truce. However, as the truce concluded, the situation remains tense, with potential ramifications for the presence of roughly 2,500 US troops in Iraq and approximately 900 in Syria.
