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The United States has acknowledged that it launched recent airstrikes in Iraq without prior notification to the Iraqi government, contradicting earlier statements that Iraq had been informed beforehand.
State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel clarified on Monday that Iraqi authorities were only briefed post-strike on the actions targeting Iranian-linked entities. This admission corrects a previous assertion by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who initially claimed that the Iraqi government had been forewarned.
Patel emphasized the expectation of a response following the loss of American soldiers, stating, “Iraq, like every country in the region, understood that there would be a response after the deaths of our soldiers.” He further elaborated on the communication process, noting that the Iraqi officials were promptly informed following the execution of the strikes. Addressing the communication discrepancy, Kirby expressed regret over any confusion his initial comments may have caused and reaffirmed the US’s stance on responding to attacks on its troops.
The airstrikes, ordered by President Joe Biden on Friday, targeted 85 locations in Iraq and Syria associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and pro-Iranian factions, retaliating against a drone assault in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers.
These strikes drew condemnation from Iraq, citing them as sovereignty violations and escalating regional tensions. The Iraqi government, through spokesman Bassem al-Awadi, vehemently denied any coordination with the US on these attacks, criticizing Washington for attempting to mislead public opinion.
This incident has heightened tensions between the US and Iraq amidst an increase in attacks on US forces, attributed to Iran-aligned groups amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Currently, approximately 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq, a residual force from the coalition’s battle against ISIL (ISIS), with discussions on their withdrawal while continuing security cooperation underway, as stated by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last month.
