Security

US calls for UN Security Council to condemn Iran’s missile strikes on Erbil

“Security Council members should condemn this attack, hold Iran accountable, and support Iraq’s democracy and sovereignty,” the American mission affirmed.

Mabast Bahaden 2022/03/17 16:29

The United Nations Security Council, at UN headquarters in New York. (Photo: UN)

Iraq Iraq Kurdistan Region Erbil missile strikes Iran UNSC UN US

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Wednesday, the United States Mission to the United Nations called for a Security Council session to condemn Iran’s missile strikes on the Kurdistan Region’s capital Erbil on Sunday.

A barrage of missiles, later claimed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), struck a civilian residence in Erbil. The attacks’ shockwaves substantially damaged Kurdistan 24’s nearby building headquarters.

“This reckless and unprovoked attack struck a civilian residence in Erbil and was an outrageous violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the US Mission to the United Nations tweeted on Wednesday.

“Security Council members should condemn this attack, hold Iran accountable, and support Iraq’s democracy and sovereignty,” the American mission affirmed.

Previously, US officials at various levels had condemned the attacks, repeating that it was an “outrageous violation” of Iraqi sovereignty.

Today, the U.S. called for a @UN Security Council discussion to condemn Iran’s missile attack on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This reckless and unprovoked attack struck a civilian residence in Erbil and was an outrageous violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
— U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) March 16, 2022

“We are in consultation with the Iraqi government and the government in Iraqi Kurdistan, in part to help them get the missile defense capabilities to be able to defend themselves in their cities,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Monday.

The IRGC, the Iranian military’s foreign operations wing, said that the missiles had struck a “strategic Zionist center”, a claim which Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi officials have ardently denied.

The Kurdistan Region’s authorities have called for an “international committee” to investigate the allegations, which the authorities describe as “baseless”.

Iraqi delegations and officials, including Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, have visited the impacted sites to closely survey the damages.