BAGHDAD: Iraq on Friday filed a complaint with the United Nations Security Council against Israel for violating its airspace in a major attack on Iran.
“These practices constitute a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty,” the ministry said, calling on “the Security Council to assume its responsibilities” and act to “prevent the recurrence of such violations,” Baghdad’s foreign ministry said.
The Iraqi government has denounced the “military aggression” launched by Israel against Iran, describing it as “a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law”.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the highest religious authority in the country, also condemned “the crime committed by the entity occupying Palestine”.
He called on “the international community to pressure this aggressor and its allies to prevent the repetition of such attacks”.
At least 78 people were killed and 329 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes that targeted the Iranian capital, Tehran, early Friday, local media reported.
“The unofficial death toll from today’s terrorist attack by the Zionist regime in Tehran province is estimated at 329 injured and 78 martyred,” the Iranian semi-official news agency Fars said.
Israel launched a large-scale attack early Friday, deploying around 200 aircraft to target Iran’s nuclear programme and long-range missile capabilities.
Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami, and other military and civilian figures were assassinated in Israeli strikes.
Iran has vowed “severe punishment,” and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
Israeli army says the operation to “strike Iranian nuclear programme and its long-range missile capabilities” will continue for several days.
