US: Some Weapons Fired from Iraq, as it Denounces Iran’s Attack on Israel

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) – As senior U.S. officials denounced the Iranian attack Saturday on Israel, they stated that some of the 300 drones and missiles targeting Israel were fired from Iraq.

They also warned Iran’s proxies that Washington would act to defend U.S. forces, which the so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq had threatened on Friday.

These exchanges occur as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani is making his first visit to Washington, which will officially begin on Monday.

Read More: U.S. Seeks to Broaden Ties with Iraq, as PM Sudani Makes First Visit to Washington

On Monday, Sudani is scheduled to meet, separately, with U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, both of whom issued statements affirming that some of the weapons fired at Israel had come from Iraq.

Thus, Sudani’s meetings might be good opportunities for him to explain that he does not control all the armed factions within his country and to explore if there are ways that the U.S. can help him address the problem.

The Biden administration has been slow to recognize the extent of Iranian influence in Iraq and the negative consequences. But, perhaps, that will change now, with at least one of the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq having supported Saturday’s Iranian-orchestrated assault on the Jewish state. 

Read More: Hoshyar Zebari: Iraq is in crisis and the US must be more engaged

President Biden’s Statement

“Earlier today, Iran—and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq—launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel,” Biden said in a statement released late on Saturday. 

That was Iran’s claim—that it was targeting military facilities. But it is impossible to really know, as 99% of the drones and missiles fired at Israel were intercepted before they reached the country. 

It is unclear why Biden would have accepted the Iranian claim at face value, but he did go on to say, “I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms.”

Biden also explained the role of the U.S. military in shooting down the Iranian weapons.

“At my direction, to support the defense of Israel,” he said, “the U.S. military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region” over the past week, and “thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our service members, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles.”

Thus, losses were minimal. There were no fatalities, and only one person—a young Arab bedouin girl—was injured in the attack. 

Biden also warned Iran and its proxies against undertaking hostilities toward U.S. troops. “While we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today,” he said, “we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

Biden listed his next steps. The first involves the G-7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. “Tomorrow I will convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” he said. The event will be held as a video call. 

In addition, “My team will engage with their counterparts across the [Middle East] region,” and “we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders.”

Secretary Austin’s Statement 

Secretary of Defense Austin issued a similar statement, including the charge that some number of weapons fired at Israel had come from Iraq.

He explained that U.S. forces had “intercepted dozens of missiles and UAVs en route to Israel, launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.”

“Our forces remain postured to protect U.S. troops and partners in the region, provide further support for Israel's defense, and enhance regional stability,” Austin continued.

“We condemn these reckless and unprecedented attacks by Iran and its proxies,” he added, “and we call on Iran to immediately halt any further attacks, including from its proxy forces, and to deescalate tensions.”