A "response to the repeated attacks of Kataëb Hezbollah (KH)". Here's what Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said on Sunday (December 29th) to justify the US military strikes on five Iraqi Hezbollah bases.
The latter "will weaken the KH's ability to carry out future attacks against the coalition forces", continues Jonathan Hoffman, who underlines that the attacks of the pro-Iranian movement took place "against Iraqi bases which welcome the forces of the operation (anti-Jihadist, Editor's note) Inherent Resolve ".
Since October 28, eleven attacks have targeted Iraqi military bases where American soldiers or diplomats are stationed, as well as the American embassy in the ultra-secure Green Zone of Baghdad.
The Pentagon spokesman said that of the five facilities targeted by the US military, three were in Iraq and two in Syria. These were arms storage units or headquarters of Kataëb Hezbollah, one of the pro-Iran factions of Hachd al-Chaabi, a coalition of paramilitaries formed to fight the jihadists and now integrated into the Iraqi security forces. .
Jonathan Hoffman accused the pro-Iranian movement of having launched more than 30 rockets on Friday against the Iraqi military base in Kirkuk, Iraq, killing an American subcontractor and wounding four American soldiers and two Iraqi soldiers.
"The United States Will Not Give Up Exercising Its Right To Self-Defense"
The United States had recently promised "a firm response" to the proliferation of attacks targeting its interests in Iraq. They also called on the Iraqi government in mid-December to "take action" to end the attacks in Iraq against American interests. The attack on the Kirkuk base was the first to kill an American victim.
Recalling that the KH movement "has close ties" with the Iranian Quds Force, in charge of the external operations of the Revolutionary Guards, Jonathan Hoffman warned Iran and its deputies that they should "cease their attacks on state forces - United and the international coalition and respect the sovereignty of Iraq, to avoid any further defensive action by American forces. "
"The coalition is in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government to ensure the lasting defeat of the Islamic State group and to provide advice and assistance to the Iraqi army," said the Pentagon spokesman. "The United States and its coalition partners fully respect the sovereignty of Iraq and support a strong and independent Iraq. The United States will not, however, give up exercising its right to self-defense."
With AFP
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