Iraq summons US representative over strikes on pro‑Iranian targets in its territory

In a move to protest against American aggression, which has targeted both military and civilian sites of Iraq, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to summon David Burger, the chargé d'affaires of the American embassy, as was detailed in the press release from Iraqi diplomacy. It was also clarified that the American representative is currently absent from Baghdad.

The United States confirmed on Friday that they had "successfully" launched retaliatory attacks, which specifically targeted elite Iranian forces and pro-Iranian groups stationed in Iraq and Syria, according to the statement issued by the White House. The operation lasted approximately thirty minutes and was deemed a success.

The U.S. formally stated that their mission was to target a total of 85 sites in seven separate locations within Syria and Iraq. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported that a minimum of 23 pro-Iranian fighters were killed in eastern Syria during these attacks. Concurrently, the Iraqi government has announced a death toll of 16 individuals, which includes civilians.

The bombing by American forces represents the first wave of retaliation following the attack mounted by Iran-backed militias on Tower 22 base in Jordan, where three US soldiers were killed and no less than 40 others wounded. This attack transpired just hours after the bodies of the deceased soldiers had been returned to their homeland.

President of the United States, Joe Biden, has publicly announced that these retaliatory attacks will be ongoing.