U.S. Central Command launched the strike Wednesday in response to an attack on Tower 22 base in Jordan late last month that killed three U.S. service members and injured some 40 others.
CENTCOM said the slain senior commander of the Kataib Hezbollah terrorist organization was responsible for planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region. However, Iraqi spokesman Tahseen Al Khafaji said those killed were leaders of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraq state-sponsored umbrella security group that includes several U.S.-designated terrorists.
"This new aggression is considered an undermining of all understandings," Al Khafaji said in a statement on X.
"We also hold the American side and the coalition forces responsible for the repercussions of these dangerous actions that threaten the security and safety of the country and clearly affect the talks taking place between the two sides."
The U.S. military is in Iraq at the request of Baghdad to support the coalition mission to defeat the Islamic State, and the attack comes as the two allies discuss the withdrawal of the remaining American troops in the country.
Their relationship has begun to fray as the United States launches retaliatory strikes within Iraq's borders in response to Iran-backed militias, who have been increasing attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in the wake of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.
Early last month, the United States killed the leader of an Iranian proxy militia inside Baghdad. The office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani described the strike as "no different from terrorist activities" and a "blatant aggression and violation of Iraqi sovereignty and security."
On Thursday, the office issued a statement from Yehia Rasool, the prime minister's military affairs spokesman, who lashed out at the United States over its most recent strike, calling it a "blatant assassination" that showed "no regard for civilian lives or international laws."
"The American forces jeopardize civil peace, violate Iraqi sovereignty and disregard the safety and lives of our citizens," he said.
"This trajectory compels the Iraqi government more than ever to terminate the mission of this coalition, which has become a factor for instability and threatens to entangle Iraq in the cycle of conflict."
U.S. launches drone strike in Baghdad in response to 3 slain U.S. soldiers
Washington DC (UPI) Feb 7, 2024 -
Following up on U.S. National Security adviser Jake Sullivan's promise Sunday that the U.S. would launch a series of counter attacks in retaliation for strikes on American forces that killed three, the U.S. has conducted an drone strike on a high-value target in Baghdad, officials said Wednesday.
U.S. Central Command said the target was a commander of the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah who was "responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region," CENTCOM said.
Sullivan's remarks Sunday were in response to the attack on the Tower 22 base in Jordan in which three American service members were killed. Sullivan added that some responses would be seen by the public and others would not.
The attack against the commander on Wednesday was carried out by drone and there was no collateral damage or additional casualties, CENTCOM said. The drone targeted the vehicle carrying the Kataib Hezbollah commander and two of his guards, officials said.
"We will not hesitate to hold responsible all those who threaten our forces' safety," Central Command officials said.
The name of the commander has not yet been released. Local police reported on Wednesday that the strike hit an SUV in Al-Mashtal, a predominantly Shia neighborhood in eastern Baghdad.
A U.S. official confirmed that the strike was part of the response President Joe Biden authorized last week in the wake of the Jordan attack.
There were two people inside the vehicle who have not been identified because their bodies were completely charred from a fire that followed the strike, according to the local police. But officials confirmed one of the men killed was the Kataib Hezbollah commander.
Following the attack, Kataib Hezbollah said it was suspending attacks on American troops, the BBC reported. Crowds of protestors in Baghdad chanted, "America is the biggest devil," the report said.
Residents and onlookers reported a heavy police and tactical team presence at the scene following a series of explosions that followed the drone strike on the vehicle.
"You are foreigners," one man shouted, adding "and foreigners are to blame for this," the BBC reported.
Meanwhile, crowds of protestors have amassed outside the U.S. embassy, where extra security has been added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday rejected a hostage-release proposal as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested a "clear and credible pathway to a Palestinian state" would be best solution to ending Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.
Previous strikes have only targeted areas along the Iraq-Syria border, not farther inside Iraq and not in Baghdad.
There are about 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in neighboring Syria as part of an effort to combat the Islamic State terror group ISIS.
The US forces have been hit with near-daily rocket and drone strikes since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023.
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