Iran announced a series of strikes targeting what they referred to as a "spy headquarters and the gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups."
In response, the US State Department swiftly released a statement condemning the attacks, with spokesperson Matthew Miller expressing strong opposition to Iran's "reckless missile strikes" that, in their view, undermine stability in Iraq, as per Fox News.
The strikes, focused near Iraq's northern city of Erbil, prompted the US State Department to emphasize support for the Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government's efforts to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people. According to two US officials, the strikes did not cause any casualties or damage to US facilities.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the missile attack in Erbil, which resulted in large explosions and sirens, including at the American Consulate. Reports from the Kurdistan Regional Security Council indicated at least four civilian casualties, along with brief air traffic diversions.
A separate ballistic missile attack by the Revolutionary Guards targeted locations in Syria connected to the Islamic State, as outlined in their statement. The elite Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that the Erbil strike aimed to destroy espionage headquarters and locations used by anti-Iranian terrorist groups for planning attacks, citing recent incidents in Kerman and Rask, Iran.
Conflicting narratives emerged regarding the Erbil attack, with initial indications of blame towards Israel from Iranian leaders. However, the Revolutionary Guards later shifted focus back to Israel, specifically naming Mossad, Israel's spy agency, as the target. Israel has yet to respond to these claims.
The attacks on the Suleimani memorial and the police station underscored Iran's perceived vulnerability to infiltration by extremist groups, despite possessing a formidable intelligence service and police capabilities, according to Devdiscourse.
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US Condemns Surging Militant Attacks Amid Tensions
While direct attacks by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps are less frequent, militant groups aligned with Iran have launched over 130 assaults on US installations in Iraq and Syria since the conflict in the Gaza Strip commenced in October. The ongoing conflict involving Hamas in southern Israel has contributed to escalating tensions in the region.
Several explosions near the under-construction US Consulate in Erbil and the Erbil airport on Tuesday did not impact US facilities, according to an American official. The US State Department reiterated its strong condemnation of Iran's actions, offering condolences to the families affected and emphasizing the destabilizing impact on Iraq.
Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, witnessed the attack, leading the Kurdish region's security council to denounce it as a "blatant violation of sovereignty." They called on the international community to condemn the Iranian assault, characterizing it as baseless and unjustified.
Kifah Mahmood, a former media adviser to Massoud Barzani, accused the Revolutionary Guards of attempting to deflect from a security failure in Kerman through a retaliatory attack, expressing regret for civilian casualties.
The broader context involves Iranian-linked groups targeting US bases in Iraq and Syria, while Iranian proxies like Houthi militants in Yemen engage in actions against commercial shipping in the Red Sea amid Israel's conflict with Hamas. These developments heighten tensions in the already volatile Middle East, raising concerns about further regional violence, The New York Times reported.
