Iraq
A member of Iraq's Hashd al-Shaabi military network waves a national flag as he exits a burning room at the US Embassy on December 31, 2019. Photo: Ahmed al-Rubaye/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has condemned the storming of the US Embassy in Baghdad and called on Iraqi authorities to protect foreign missions present in the country.
In a statement published to the Presidency’s website on Wednesday, Barzani expressed concern over the attack on the US Embassy on Tuesday, stating that the “unequivocally unacceptable” act will further threaten Iraq’s interests.
This was the first comment to come from the president on the incident.
Iranian-backed militia supporters breached the embassy on Tuesday before commencing a two day sit-in, smashing windows, trashing a reception area and setting part of the compound ablaze, according to AP.
The Iraqi Army has now confirmed that the militia supporters have withdrawn from the area and Iraqi security forces have fully secured the embassy’s perimeters.
The attack was prompted by a spate of violence between the US and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
Kataib Hezbollah, a group within the PMF, suffered heavy losses in US airstrikes across Iraq and Syria on Saturday which killed 25 of their fighters.
The US offensive responded to a rocket attack on Kirkuk’s K1 military base on Friday, which killed one US civilian contractor and injured several others. Kataib Hezbollah is widely suspected to be behind the attack.
Foreign missions should be “treated with respect,” Barzani added.
“We urge the responsible authorities to undertake their duties in protecting them [foreign missions] and prevent attacks on embassies, institutions and diplomatic missions,” the Wednesday statement read.
US President Trump and several American officials have called on Iraqi authorities to renew protection for the embassy in light of the events.
“Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq..we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper also called on Iraq to “fulfil its international responsibilities”.
"As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, & we call on the Gov't of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so. The US continues to support the Iraqi people & a free, sovereign, & prosperous Iraq," he tweeted.
Barzani also highlighted the country’s reliance on the US to fight terror groups in the region.
“To confront the dangers of terror and to safeguard its interests, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region still need the support and cooperation of the United States and the international coalition,” said the president, citing the US as the country’s main partner in defeating Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS).
The recent events at the embassy hinder efforts to fight terrorism across Iraq, according to The Special Operation Joint Task Force of Operation Inherent Resolve, established by the US-led coalition to fight ISIS.
“The coalition forces are here to assist Iraq in its fight against Daesh. Missile bombing of coalition and Iraqi forces, and crowd violence at the American Embassy, organised by the Hezbollah Brigades, prevents us from assisting,” it tweeted, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
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