Austin to Iraqi Prime Minister: Attacks Must Stop

The U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, announced that "Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin condemned the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad during a call with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, discussing the Iraqi government's commitment to protecting diplomats and international coalition advisors." Austin emphasized during the call that "Washington reserves the right to act in self-defense against those who launch any attacks against Americans," reaffirming that "attacks against U.S. forces must stop." He noted that "the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah and al-Nujaba movement are responsible for most of the attacks against the coalition, and these attacks undermine Iraq's sovereignty and stability."