The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene an emergency meeting on February 5 to discuss recent U.S. retaliatory attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria, according to AFP, citing authoritative diplomatic sources. This decision, made after receiving an official request from Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is aimed at a comprehensive and in-depth review of the military actions taken by the United States against Iranian-backed organizations.
The northwestern border city of Qaem and several border areas were attacked, reducing a building to rubble.
The trigger for the incident occurred on January 28, when a major U.S. military base in Jordan was suddenly attacked by a swarm of drones. As a result of the attack, three U.S. soldiers were killed, more than 40 others were injured, and the base facilities were severely damaged. The U.S. side quickly launched an investigation and initially assessed that the drones were made and operated by Iran, and that the mastermind behind them was the Iraqi militia group supported by Iran, the Iraqi Allah Brigade.
In response to this provocation and to demonstrate its military might, the U.S. military took decisive action on February 2. They launched multiple bomber sorties and carried out precision strikes at seven key locations in Iraq and Syria, destroying more than 85 Iranian-linked military targets. This series of retaliatory actions is intended to send a clear and strong signal to Iran and the militias it supports: any attack on U.S. forces will come at a heavy cost.
Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Kazakhstan conflict on 7 October last year, US military garrisons in Iraq and Syria have been frequently attacked in various forms. However, unlike the previous passive response, the US bombing campaign marks the first time that the United States has made a strong counterattack against such an attack, demonstrating its determination to defend its own interests and regional security.
However, the actions of the US military have also provoked strong dissatisfaction and ** from the Iraqi side. The Popular Mobilization Group, an Iraqi militia, issued a statement on February 3 accusing the U.S. military of launching airstrikes on several of the group's key headquarters and camps, killing 16 people and wounding 36. The statement also said that the actions of the US military have seriously violated Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity and are a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian principles. Iraq also reacted quickly by summoning the US chargé d'affaires in Baghdad, Iraq, and handing over a sternly worded note expressing strong condemnation of the US military's attack.
As the incident continues to ferment and the international community pays wide attention, the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council will become an important platform for all parties to express their positions, exchange views and seek solutions. At this critical juncture, all parties should remain calm and exercise restraint, resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.