In Iraq's northwestern border city of Qaem and several adjacent areas, a sudden U.S. airstrike shook the area. The airstrikes not only sparked tensions in the region, but also provoked a strong reaction from Iraqi officials.
The spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces, Rasul, quickly issued a statement in the early hours of Saturday (3 February). He sternly condemned the air strike as a flagrant violation of Iraq's national sovereignty. Rasul warned that such an action would have a series of unpredictable consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and even the entire Middle East region.
A source, who did not want to be named, revealed more details about the airstrikes to Xinhua. According to his account, the US airstrike mainly hit a number of key military facilities of the Iraqi militia armed "Popular Mobilization Group". The attack has already killed at least three people and injured five, and that number is likely to rise further.
At the same time, the matter was also widely reported by the United States**. The U.S. reportedly began retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday (Feb. 2). The operation was in response to the previous deaths of three U.S. soldiers in a drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan.
In retaliatory strikes, the U.S. military dispatched advanced warplanes and drones to carry out precision airstrikes on targets of Iranian-backed militant groups in Syria and Iraq. The targets of the attack included the headquarters of the armed group, the ** warehouse, and other important facilities. The airstrikes were undoubtedly a major blow to Iranian-backed militias, but they also heightened tensions in the region.
At the same time, the international community has also expressed concern about the air strike. The UN Secretary-General and leaders of several countries have issued statements calling on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue and consultation. A number of international organizations and agencies have also provided humanitarian assistance to Iraq to help the affected population tide over the difficult situation.
However, the U.S. military's air raids did not stop there. Over the next few days, the U.S. military reportedly continued to carry out airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia targets in Iraq and Syria. Each of these strikes has sparked panic and anger among the local population, and has also made the situation in Iraq and the Middle East more volatile.
Against this backdrop, Iraq** is facing tremendous pressures and challenges. On the one hand, it needs to respond to the air raids of the US military and protect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity; On the other hand, it also needs to stabilize the domestic situation, calm the mood of the population, and prevent the situation from deteriorating further. It remains to be seen how Iraq** will respond to this series of challenges in the future.