2LT International News

BAGHDAD, Iraq – In a shock move the Iraqi government has condemned the U.S. airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah bases in Iraq over the weekend, and summoned the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

Kataib Hezbollah has been actively engaged in the fight against Islamic State. The United States surprisingly bombed five of the groups bases, three in Iraq, and 2 in Syria on Sunday using GPS-guided drones.

Both Iran, which is a supporter of the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah, and Hezbollah itself have also slammed the airstrikes.

In statements issued by both, and in a separate statement released by the Pentagon, all three have been critical of the others activities in Iraq, describing them as a breach of Iraq’s sovereignty.

So it was a serious slap in the face for the United States when Iraq issued its statement of condemnation, claiming the airstrikes were in fact an attack on its sovereignty – rather than a measure to protect it, as the U.S. defense department statement claimed.

The Iraqi condemnation came in a statement from Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s office on Monday.

“The prime minister described the American attack on the Iraqi armed forces as an unacceptable vicious assault that will have dangerous consequences,” the statement said.

Iraq’s National Security Council added that targeting Iraqi paramilitary groups would force it to reconsider its relationship with the U.S.-led international anti-Islamic State coalition. It condemned the attacks as a violation of sovereignty.

Other world leaders have joined the chorus of condemnation. The motivation for the attack appears to have been the death of a U.S. contractor. However the U.S. airstrikes killed 25 people, and injured fifty-five.

Russia’s foreign ministry was critical of both the U.S. and Hezbollah. “We consider such actions unacceptable and counterproductive. We call upon all parties to refrain from further actions that could sharply destabilise the military-political situation in Iraq, Syria, and the neighbouring countries,” a Russian foreign ministry statement said.

“This claim without any evidence cannot justify bombing and killing people in violation of international law,” Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said Monday.

“These attacks have once again proved America’s false claims in fighting Daesh (Islamic State)… as the United States has targeted the positions of forces that over the years have inflicted heavy blows to Daesh terrorists,” Iran’s government spokesman Abbas Mousavi said separately on Monday.

“With these attacks, America has shown its firm support for terrorism and its neglect for the independence and sovereignty of countries and it must accept consequences for its illegal act,” Mousavi added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu however threw his weight behind the U.S., congratulating it for carrying out the strikes.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and commended him on the important U.S. action against Iran and its proxies in the region,” a statement from Mr Netanyahu’s office said.