The U.S. State Department called on the Iraqi government today, Thursday, to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on American and international companies in Baghdad. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated in a press briefing that "these attacks harm Iraqis and Iraqi workers as well as the capital being invested there; thus, they are attacks on the Iraqi people."
Miller added that "the Iraqi government must take appropriate actions in response to these attacks and hold those responsible accountable." He urged "the Iraqi government to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible for the attacks to justice and prevent any future attacks," noting that "these actions undermine Iraq's ability to attract foreign investments."
In less than 24 hours, several American restaurants and companies were attacked by groups armed with "sticks and batons" who emerged from unmarked vehicles, terrifying Baghdad families and vandalizing properties, as shown in videos released by the operations command. Meanwhile, the Baghdad Operations Command announced the arrest of seven assailants involved in the attack on the Kanon dairy plant after surrounding them and enforcing security in the Al-Awairij industrial area south of Baghdad.
