Iraq and U.S. condemn Iran strikes on Erbil
Iraq labeled Iran‘s attacks on the city of Erbil “an aggression” against its sovereignty and security, and has recalled its ambassador from Tehran in response.
The country’s foreign ministry said in a statement on X that Iran targeted “residential places with ballistic missiles,” which led to casualties among civilians. The Kurdistan Region Security Council said in a statement that 4 civilians were killed in Erbil and six others were injured as the result of the attack. NBC News could not verify the claims.
Iraq’s foreign ministry said it will take “all legal measures” against Iran’s behavior, including submitting a complaint to the United Nations Security Council. The country has also recalled its ambassador from Tehran for further consultations, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
The State Department also “strongly condemned” Iran’s actions, adding that it opposes Tehran’s “reckless missile strikes,” which undermine Iraq’s stability.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said no U.S. personnel or facilities in Iraq were targeted in the strikes, and they continue to assess the situation while supporting Iraq’s sovereignty.
Iran says it launched missiles toward Iraq and Syria to deter security threats
Iran said it launched ballistic missiles at targets in Iraq and Syria in defense of its sovereignty and security as well as to counter terrorism amid rising fears of the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they attacked the “spy headquarters” of Israel in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region late yesterday, in addition to also striking in Syria against the Islamic State.
The Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment on Iran’s claims.
Iranian semiofficial news agency ISNA quoted the country’s foreign ministry spokesman Naser Kanaani as saying the operations were part of Tehran’s just punishment against those who act against the country’s security.
At least four civilians were killed and six injured in the strikes, the Kurdistan government’s security council said. Multimillionaire Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee and several members of his family were among the dead, killed when at least one rocket crashed into their home, Iraqi security and medical sources said.
Israeli operations in Gaza will soon move to lower intensity phase, defense minister says
Israel’s defense minister said yesterday evening that the military offensive inside Gaza is moving toward a lower intensity stage after the conflict reached the 100-day mark.
Yoav Gallant said that when he and the Israeli military leadership presented the war plan for the Gaza Strip after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, they made it clear that the intensive maneuvering stage would last for about three months.
“In the northern area of the Gaza strip this phase will come to an end,” Gallant said. “In southern Gaza we will reach this achievement and it will end soon, and in both places, the moment will come when we will move to the next phase.”
Gallant’s comments came as the Israel military said yesterday it has withdrawn one of four divisions in the Gaza Strip for “a period of refreshment and training.”
Gaza ground operations at dawn
Israeli soldiers during ground operations at an undisclosed location in the Gaza Strip, in an image supplied by the IDF this morning.
New details on 4-year-old American hostage freed by Hamas
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