Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Monday reiterated Baghdad’s commitment to protecting diplomatic missions operating in the country during a meeting with the United States Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski, as strikes against American bases continue.
Sudani and Romanowski discussed bilateral cooperation, the recent developments in the Israel-Gaza war, and the Iraqi government’s efforts to prevent further attacks on US personnel in the country.
Sudani “emphasized Iraq’s commitment to safeguarding diplomatic missions and providing security for advisors within the global coalition against ISIS. He stressed that Iraqi security services are diligently performing their legal duties to maintain security and stability on Iraqi territory,” according to a statement from his office.
US bases of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria have been struck by dozens of rocket and drone attacks over the past month by pro-Iran militias in reaction to Washington’s support for Israel in its war against Gaza.
The Iraqi premier reaffirmed Baghdad’s “unwavering and principled” stance towards the Palestinian issue during the meeting with the US top diplomat, and highlighted the need to open humanitarian corridors and allow the delivery of aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), late Monday claimed to have struck Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province, which houses US personnel.
The US has responded to the repeated attacks on its personnel with three retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militia targets in Syria, most recently targeting two Iran-linked facilities in Deir ez-Zor province, east of the country.
Around 2,500 American troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria are leading an international coalition through Operation Inherent Resolve that has assisted Kurdish, Iraqi, and local Syrian forces in the fight against ISIS, which once held swathes of land in Iraq and Syria but was declared devoid of territorial control in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
Source : Rudaw