Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Consulate Complex in Irbil
Posted on 03/13/2022
Iran claimed responsibility for a dozen ballistic missiles that hit near a U.S. consulate complex in Irbil, which is in northern Iraq. Iran said the attack was against Israeli “strategic centers” in Irbil. The Iraqi government called it a “violation of international law and norms”. Iran fired 10 Fateh missiles, including several Fateh-110 missiles, which have a range of about 300 kilometers. An Iraqi official in Baghdad initially said several missiles had hit the U.S. consulate in Irbil, which is new and unoccupied. The missiles actual hit residential areas around the compound. Iraqi security officials told media there were no casualties from the Irbil attack, which they said occurred after midnight and caused material damage in the area. Irbil is Iraq’s northern Kurdish regional capital.
“The strikes were an outrageous violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. No U.S. facilities were damaged or personnel injured, and we have no indications the attack was directed at the United States,” U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.
“Any repetition of attacks by Israel will be met with a harsh, decisive and destructive response,” the Revolutionary Guard said in a statement reported by state media.
Iran said it was in retaliation for an Israeli strike near Damascus, Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard earlier this week. Iran believes the site is a place where Mossad meets with Turkey and the U.S.
U.S. forces in Iraq have shifted to a non-combat role. Iraq’s military is still in combat against the Islamic State militants.
Iran Nuclear Deal Restart
U.S. President Joe Biden is trying to restart the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)), which his predecessor Trump quashed in 2018 and added more U.S. sanctions on Iran. Interestingly, Russia has been leading in the talks on the negotiations with the Iranians. Britain, France, and Germany warned Russia on against exploiting talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the nuclear deal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov demanded guarantees to maintain trade with Iran and not be affected by the sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Iran has called for a wide range of sanctions to be lifted and guarantees the U.S. will not renege again.
