Following the surprise American strike on Thursday, which targeted a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) location near the Iraqi Ministry of Interior in eastern Baghdad, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby refrained from discussing the details of the operation but emphasized his country’s right to defend the safety of its soldiers. When asked about the Iraqi accusations directed at the U.S. administration for violating the country’s sovereignty through this attack, Kirby asserted to Al Arabiya that "his country, unlike Iran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, respects Iraqi sovereignty." He added, "We are grateful for the continued support we receive from the Iraqi government."
Kirby clarified that U.S. forces are present in an advisory capacity only to assist Iraqi security forces in continuing to combat the ongoing threat of ISIS. While he stressed that Washington takes Iraq’s sovereignty seriously and respects it, he also affirmed the importance of protecting the safety of its troops present on Iraqi soil. He concluded by stating, "We have the right and responsibility to ensure they have the capabilities and proper defense. As President Joe Biden said, we will continue to do what we need to do to protect our citizens."
This came after the U.S. Department of Defense announced in a statement on Thursday that its forces carried out a strike "in self-defense" in Iraq that resulted in the death of Abu Taqwa al-Saidi, a leader of the Iran-backed Al-Nujaba Movement, which operates in both Iraq and Syria. The statement added that Abu Taqwa was involved in planning and executing attacks against American military personnel.
