Iraq: Iran Bombed Erbil Because It Cannot Respond to Israel

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein announced today that "there are no centers linked to the Israeli Mossad in Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq," indicating that "Iran bombed Erbil because it cannot respond to Israel." Hussein stated in an interview with CNN that "the Iranian Revolutionary Guard attacked civilian areas in Erbil, including one of the homes, and that all the casualties in the attack were Iraqi Kurds." The foreign minister condemned the attacks, considering them "an assault and a violation of international law." He noted that the tension between Israel and Iran is manifested on Iraqi territory. He added, "The Iranians do not want to or cannot attack Israel. They are looking for victims around them, so they attacked Erbil." He stated that the Iraqis "are paying the price for the tension between Iran and Israel and between Iran and the United States." The Iranian Revolutionary Guard stated on Monday that it targeted positions belonging to armed groups in both Iraq and Syria with a number of ballistic missiles.