Military Space News
IRAQ WARS
Iraq urges end to 'cycle of violence' after US troop deaths
Iraq urges end to 'cycle of violence' after US troop deaths
by AFP Staff Writers
Baghdad (AFP) Jan 29, 2024

Iraqi authorities on Monday condemned the drone attack that killed three US military personnel in Jordan, calling for an "end to the cycle of violence" in the Middle East.

"The Iraqi government condemns the ongoing escalation," government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement, adding that it was willing "to collaborate on establishing fundamental rules to prevent further repercussions in the region and curb the escalation of conflict".

The attack against Tower 22, a logistics base located at Jordan's border with Syria, killed three US troops and wounded 34.

It is the highest number of American casualties in a single incident since pro-Iran groups in October escalated their attacks against US and anti-jihadist coalition forces.

"Have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," US President Joe Biden said on Sunday as he blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups" for the attack.

Since mid-October, shortly after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, there have been more than 150 drone or rocket attacks against US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.

The majority have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict and wants them out of Iraq.

None of the pro-Tehran groups in Iraq, Syria or Yemen has so far claimed responsibility for the drone strike that killed the US soldiers.

But on Sunday the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed to have launched three drone attacks at bases in Syria, including near the Jordanian border.

US forces have launched numerous strikes targeting pro-Iran militants in Iraq in retaliation for the dozens of attacks on its personnel.

The volatile situation has pushed the Iraqi government to insist on an end to the anti-jihadist coalition on Iraqi territory and a gradual reduction of its staff, and a first round of talks with US officials was held on Saturday.

Condemning the Jordan attack, Iraq's foreign ministry stressed in a statement late Monday "the importance of regional de-escalation".

The ministry said it was "necessary" to allow the ongoing negotiations with Washington to play out.

An armed faction of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Harakat al-Nujaba, said in a statement Monday that the United States should "learn the lesson and leave today... For every day that passes, they will pay a heavy price."

Washington, Baghdad open talks on foreign troops in Iraq
Baghdad (AFP) Jan 27, 2024 - Iraq and the United States on Saturday held a first round of talks on the future of American and other foreign troops in the country, with Baghdad expecting discussions to lead to a timeline for reducing their presence.

Roughly 2,500 US troops are still deployed in Iraq as part of the anti-Islamic State group international coalition formed in 2014 -- the year the jihadist group overran swathes of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

But after the Israel-Hamas war began in October US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have faced frequent attacks by Iran-aligned groups, leading to US retaliatory strikes and Iraqi complaints of American "aggression" against its territory.

The volatile situation has pushed Iraq's prime minister -- whose government relies on the support of Iran-aligned parties -- to call for the coalition to leave, although talks had been planned since an initial meeting in Washington in August.

On Saturday a "one-way drone attack" targeted the Ain al-Assad base, where coalition troops are stationed in Iraq's western Anbar province, a US military official told AFP.

An Iraqi security official confirmed the drone attack, with the US official saying it was not immediately clear whether it had led to any casualties or damage.

Earlier the office of Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani issued a photograph of him with top-ranking officials from both the Iraqi armed forces and the US-led coalition.

Their joint commission "started its work today, in Baghdad, to review the mission of the Global Coalition against Daesh," Sudani's office said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"Military experts will oversee ending the military mission of the Global Coalition against Daesh, a decade after its initiation and after its successful achievement of its mission in partnership with Iraqi security and military forces."

Sudani's foreign affairs adviser, Farhad Alaaldin, told AFP that the talks "and whatever progress made will determine the length of these negotiations.

"Iraq is engaging the other countries taking part in the international coalition for bilateral agreements that serves the best interest of Iraq and these countries," Alaaldin said.

- 'Clear timeline' -

The US-led coalition said in a statement that Saturday's meeting was part of the process to "assess progress in the coalition's primary Defeat-Daesh mission, as well as discuss future adjustments to the coalition's mission and presence in Iraq".

The joint military commission "will work to set the conditions to transition the mission in Iraq", it added.

On Thursday, Washington had said it agreed with Baghdad on the launch of "expert working groups of military and defence professionals" as part of the joint commission set up in agreement with Baghdad.

The three working groups would examine "the level of threat posed by ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, and strengthening the growing capabilities of the Iraqi security forces," Sudani's office said.

US Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh had acknowledged that the US military footprint in Iraq "will certainly be part of the conversations as it goes forward".

Iraq's foreign ministry sees the eventual formulation of "a specific and clear timeline... and to begin the gradual reduction of its (the coalition's) advisers on Iraqi soil".

There have been more than 150 attacks targeting coalition troops since mid-October, many of them claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-linked groups that oppose US support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza.

In 2014 IS declared a "caliphate" which they ruled with brutality before their defeat in Iraq in late 2017 by Iraqi forces backed by the US-led coalition. However, jihadist cells still stage sporadic attacks on the army and police.

Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
IRAQ WARS
Iran-linked groups vow more attacks on US forces in Iraq
Baghdad (AFP) Jan 26, 2024
Iran-allied armed groups vowed Friday to keep up attacks on US-led coalition forces in Iraq, ahead of imminent talks between Washington and Baghdad on the future of the foreign troops in the country. Washington has forces in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, but after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war the troops have faced frequent attacks, prompting the US to launch retaliatory strikes in Iraq. The volatile situation has pushed Iraq's ... read more

IRAQ WARS
U.S. hits two more Houthi missiles in ninth Yemen attack

MBDA secures contracts to fortify Royal Navy's against ballistic threats

US Air Force, Raytheon, and Kongsberg collaborate on GhostEye MR Air Defense Test

Tranche 1 Missile Tracking Satellites by L3Harris completes review ahead of production start

IRAQ WARS
NKorea's Kim oversaw test of cruise missiles launched from submarine: state media

Commercial vessel hit by missile off Yemen: security firm

Russia says destroyed 20 Ukrainian missiles over Black Sea, Crimea

North Korea fires cruise missiles in fresh flurry of tests

IRAQ WARS
US vows decisive response to deadly drone attack in Jordan

Ukraine says Russia attack with 20 drones, missiles overnight

US strikes 10 Huthi drones, downs unmanned Iranian aircraft

NASA Autonomous Flight Software Successfully Used in Air Taxi Stand-Ins

IRAQ WARS
General Atomics to Showcase Optical Communication Terminals in Space with SDA Contract

L3Harris Technologies showcases Waveform X capabilities in live flight demonstration

Lockheed Martin secures $890M SDA contract for advanced missile tracking satellites

Rocket Lab secures $515M contract with Space Development Agency for Tranche 2 constellation

IRAQ WARS
Britons should be prepared to fight a land war: army chief

Lithuania seeks Leopard tanks amid security concerns

NATO signs $1.2-bn artillery deal with Ukraine; Norway gears up for ammunition production

Ukraine minister criticises insufficient weapons supply

IRAQ WARS
Defense Department lists dozens of Chinese military companies operating in U.S.

Canada drops ban on military exports to Turkey

India fetes France's Macron at annual military parade

UK arms export licences to Israel in the dock

IRAQ WARS
NATO chief to US conservatives: US alliance 'a good deal'

Russia sees NATO as 'threat', Kremlin says amid drills

Meeting NATO, Blinken warns Ukraine gains in doubt if no US aid

Turkey ratifies Sweden's NATO bid; Hungary last obstacle to membership

IRAQ WARS
MIT.nano equipment to accelerate innovation in "tough tech" sectors

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.