On Wednesday, the White House announced that President Joe Biden held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to discuss recent rocket attacks against Iraqi forces and international coalition troops fighting ISIS.
The White House statement noted that Biden and Al-Kadhimi agreed on the necessity of holding those responsible for these attacks accountable. Biden emphasized U.S. support for the sovereignty and independence of Iraq. For his part, the Iraqi Prime Minister stated that he discussed ways to develop bilateral relations and enhance partnership for the benefit of both countries, working to support security and peace in the region, and continuing cooperation in the fight against ISIS.
In a tweet, Al-Kadhimi highlighted that the call emphasized the need to continue strategic dialogue between the two countries based on Iraqi national sovereignty. This call came just one day after the Green Zone—home to government headquarters and diplomatic missions such as the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad—was hit by three rockets, causing material damage, as reported by the Iraqi army. The Green Zone and military bases hosting international coalition forces have frequently come under rocket attacks since the killing of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020. Al-Kadhimi did not clarify who initiated the phone call, himself or the U.S. President.
