The Nineveh Operations Command of the Popular Mobilization Forces expressed its surprise at what it described as the "hasty accusation" of security leaders in the Kurdistan region of Iraq for being behind the attack on the Harir military base near Erbil airport (northern Iraq), in which foreign soldiers, including Americans, are present.

The leadership said - in a statement - that the area from which the rockets were launched towards Erbil is uninhabited, and is located in a triangle surrounded by the army and the Mobilization Forces of Shabak and Peshmerga forces, and added that it had opened an investigation into the incident, and that a crowd force was searching for the rocket launchers.

The authorities of the Kurdistan region held the Popular Mobilization Authority responsible for targeting US forces at Erbil airport on Wednesday evening with missiles that did not cause damage.

The Counter-Terrorism Service in the region said - in a statement - that "6 rockets were fired from the outskirts of the village of Sheikh Amir in Nineveh Governorate by the Popular Mobilization Forces, targeting the coalition base at Erbil International Airport," where American soldiers are stationed.

In turn, the Ministry of Interior in the regional government announced that the missiles were fired from a pick-up truck from a place located "within the limits of the 30th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces," and did not cause any damage.

The ministry stressed its condemnation of this act, stressing the readiness of the regional authorities "to deter any aggression," and demanded Baghdad "to take the necessary measures."

In Baghdad, the Joint Operations Command accused a "terrorist group" - whose identity has not been identified - of launching these missiles, noting that orders were issued to arrest the commander of the force responsible for the area from which the missiles were launched, and an immediate investigation was opened.

A source in the international coalition said that a number of rockets landed near its base in Erbil, without causing any casualties.

The President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, condemned the attack, and called on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The Erbil attack comes after Washington’s threat to close its embassy in Baghdad and withdraw its forces from Iraq if these attacks do not stop.

Prime Minister @MAKadhimi: Iraq, the people and the government, will stand up to these and will work to protect its guests as required by diplomatic norms throughout history, and to turn the page on conflicts and terrorism and turn to economic and social challenges and development requirements.

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- Media Office of the Prime Minister (@IraqiPMO) September 30, 2020

Al-Kazemi pledges


This came hours after the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi pledged to protect foreign missions from missile attacks, after US threats to close its embassy in Baghdad.

Al-Kazemi pledged yesterday, in a meeting with senior diplomats, to protect foreign missions and to limit the possession of weapons to government forces, after Washington threatened to close its embassy in Baghdad.

Al-Kazemi said that closing foreign embassies in the country means stopping economic and military cooperation, at a time when Iraq is going through great challenges.

In a speech during a regular session of the Council of Ministers, Al-Kazemi confirmed that the United States and the European Union are considering withdrawing from his country, as a result of the continuous attacks targeting the Green Zone (central Baghdad).

Al-Kazemi's office also pointed out - in a statement - that he had affirmed in a meeting with 25 foreign envoys - including the American ambassador - that "Iraq is keen to impose the rule of law, restrict weapons to the hands of the state, and protect diplomatic missions and headquarters."

He stressed that "the perpetrators of attacks on the security of diplomatic missions seek to destabilize Iraq and sabotage its regional and international relations."

Rocket attacks have increased during the past few weeks near the US embassy, ​​and roadside bombs have targeted convoys carrying ammunition for the US-led coalition.