Iran missile attack: Missiles fired from Iran hit near US consulate in Irbil, Iraq

BAGHDAD — As many as 12 missiles struck close to a sprawling U.S. consulate complicated within the northern Iraqi metropolis of Irbil on Sunday, in what a U.S. protection official and an Iraqi official mentioned was a strike launched from neighboring Iran.

No accidents have been reported within the assault, which marked a major escalation between the U.S. and Iran. Hostility between the longtime foes has usually performed out in Iraq, whose authorities is allied with each nations.

The Iraqi official in Baghdad initially mentioned a number of missiles had hit the U.S. consulate in Irbil and that it was the goal of the assault. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the pinnacle of Kurdistan’s overseas media workplace, mentioned not one of the missiles had struck the U.S. facility however that areas across the compound had been hit.

The U.S. protection official mentioned it was nonetheless unsure precisely what number of missiles have been fired and precisely the place they landed. A second U.S. official mentioned there was no harm at any U.S. authorities facility and that there was no indication the goal was the consulate constructing, which is new and at present unoccupied.

Neither the Iraqi official nor the U.S. officers have been licensed to debate the occasion with the media and spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity.

Satellite tv for pc broadcast channel Kurdistan24, which is positioned close to the U.S. consulate, went on air from their studio shortly after the assault, exhibiting shattered glass and particles on their studio ground.

The assault got here a number of days after Iran mentioned it could retaliate for an Israeli strike close to Damascus, Syria, that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard. On Sunday, Iran’s state-run IRNA information company quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the assaults in Irbil, with out saying the place they originated.

An Iranian spokesperson rejected the accusation that Iran was behind the Irbil assault. Mahmoud Abbaszadeh, spokesman for Iran’s parliamentary committee on nationwide safety and overseas coverage, mentioned the allegation couldn’t be confirmed to this point.

“If Iran decides to take revenge … it will likely be very, very severe, sturdy, apparent,” he mentioned in an interview with a neighborhood information web site.

The missile barrage coincided with regional tensions. Negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a “pause” over Russian calls for about sanctions concentrating on Moscow for its battle on Ukraine. In the meantime, Iran suspended its secret Baghdad-brokered talks geared toward defusing yearslong tensions with regional rival Saudi Arabia, after Saudi Arabia carried out its largest recognized mass execution in its trendy historical past with over three dozens Shiites killed.

The Iraqi safety officers mentioned there have been no casualties from the Irbil assault, which they mentioned occurred after midnight and prompted materials harm within the space. They spoke on situation of anonymity in step with laws.

One of many Iraqi officers mentioned the ballistic missiles have been fired from Iran, with out elaborating. He mentioned the projectiles have been the Iranian-made Fateh-110, possible fired in retaliation for the 2 Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria.

One other U.S. official mentioned in a press release that the U.S. condemned what it referred to as an “outrageous assault towards Iraqi sovereignty and show of violence.”

U.S. forces stationed at Irbil’s airport compound have come underneath fireplace from rocket and drone assaults up to now, with U.S. officers blaming Iran-backed teams.

The highest U.S. commander for the Center East has repeatedly warned in regards to the rising threats of assaults from Iran and Iranian-backed militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.

In an interview with The Related Press in December, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie mentioned that whereas U.S. forces in Iraq have shifted to a non-combat function, Iran and its proxies nonetheless need all American troops to go away the nation. In consequence, he mentioned, which will set off extra assaults.’

The Biden administration determined final July to finish the U.S. fight mission in Iraq by Dec. 31, and U.S. forces step by step moved to an advisory function final yr. The troops will nonetheless present air assist and different army support for Iraq’s battle towards the Islamic State.

The U.S. presence in Iraq has lengthy been a flash level for Tehran, however tensions spiked after a January 2020 U.S. drone strike close to the Baghdad airport killed a high Iranian normal. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad airbase, the place U.S. troops have been stationed. Greater than 100 service members suffered traumatic mind accidents within the blasts.

Extra lately, Iranian proxies are believed accountable for an assassination try late final yr on Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

And officers have mentioned they consider Iran was behind the October drone assault on the army outpost in southern Syria the place American troops are primarily based. No U.S. personnel have been killed or injured within the assault.

Al-Kadhimi tweeted: “The aggression which focused the pricey metropolis of Irbil and unfold worry amongst its inhabitants is an assault on the safety of our folks.”

Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled area, condemned the assault. In a Fb put up, he mentioned Irbil “won’t bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist assault.”