Warnings of "exploding the situation" in the region after the US strikes in Syria and Iraq

The effects of the American bombing yesterday, Friday, on the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the city of Al-Qaim in Anbar (Anatolia)

The Iraqi government spokesman, Bassem Al-Awadi, said that the American bombing of the regions (eastern of the country) targets the sovereignty of Iraq, while the Syrian Foreign Ministry said that the American strikes on its territory are dangerously fueling the conflict in the region, while Iran considered it an open and declared aggression against Syria and Iraq and strikes. Regional stability.

Al-Awadi said in a statement that 16 people, including civilians, were killed and 25 others were injured as a result of the American bombing on the Akashat and Al-Qaim regions in the east of the country.

He described the attack as a new aggression targeting Iraq's sovereignty, and said that after carrying out the attack, the American side deliberately falsified the facts by announcing the existence of prior coordination with the Iraqi government on this matter, considering that "this is a false claim aimed at misleading international public opinion."

The statement considered that the presence of the international coalition, “which has departed from the tasks assigned to it and the mandate granted to it,” has become a reason for threatening security and stability in Iraq and a justification for involving it in regional and international conflicts.

He also stressed that the lands of Iraq are not an arena for settling scores and are not the appropriate place to send messages and show force between opponents.

Yesterday evening, Friday, the US Army announced that it had launched attacks on more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq in response to the bloody attack that targeted an American base in northeastern Jordan near the border with Syria, and resulted in the killing of 3 American soldiers.

According to Iraqi security sources, the American bombing targeted weapons stores, the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the Dur al-Sikak area in Al-Qaim in Anbar Governorate, the headquarters of the Anbar Operations Command of the Mobilization Forces, the medical headquarters, and other headquarters in the Akashat area adjacent to Al-Qaim district.

Fueling conflict

For its part, the Syrian Foreign Ministry today condemned the US air strikes on its territory, and said that this attack is fueling the conflict in the Middle East region in a very dangerous way.

She added that the United States is the main source of global instability, considering that American forces threaten international peace and security.

Damascus condemned the "blatant American violation" and said that it "categorically rejects all the pretexts and lies promoted by the American administration to justify this attack."

The official Syrian News Agency (SANA) also quoted a statement from the Ministry of Defense that “the occupation of parts of Syrian territory by American forces cannot continue,” stressing that the Syrian forces will continue their war “against terrorism until it is eliminated” and the entire territory is liberated “from all terrorism and occupation.”

According to local sources, the American bombing in Syria targeted the village of Ayyash in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor, as well as Hawijat Saqr in the center of Deir ez-Zor and the city’s military airport. It also targeted the Al-Tamour neighborhood in the city of Al-Mayadeen, the Al-Shibli and Ain Ali area in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, and the third pumping station in Badia is a city of destruction.

Bulldozers remove rubble after the American bombing of the Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters in Anbar (Anatolia)

Outright aggression

In turn, Iran strongly condemned the US strikes, describing them as “violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria.”

Iranian sources told Al Jazeera that the American bombing is a clear and declared aggression against Syria and Iraq and threatens regional stability.

She stressed that Washington's talk about strikes by the Quds Force in Syria is unrealistic and a source of rubbish, and that there are no bases belonging to the Revolutionary Guard or the Quds Force in the areas that were subjected to American bombing in Syria.

The sources stated that the United States must realize that the language of threats and the use of military force will respond negatively, and that the American aggression against Syria and Iraq comes with political and electoral backgrounds for President Joe Biden.

Hamas condemns

For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) strongly condemned the American strikes on targets in Iraq and Syria, and said that it considered “this aggression” a dangerous escalation and “an infringement on the sovereignty of the two countries.”

Hamas added that the US administration bears responsibility for the consequences of this brutal aggression against Iraq and Syria, which "adds fuel to the fire."

International responses

At the international level, European Union foreign policy coordinator Josep Borrell called on Saturday on all parties to avoid further escalation in the Middle East, and said that "everyone must try to avoid the situation becoming explosive."

Borrell did not mention the US strikes directly, but he warned again that the Middle East was a "cauldron that could explode."

For its part, Britain described the United States today as a "steadfast" ally and said that it supports "Washington's right to respond to attacks."

A British government spokesman said in a statement, "The United Kingdom and the United States are firm allies. We will not comment on their operations, but we support their right to respond to attacks."

For her part, the Belgian Foreign Minister warned against the situation erupting, saying, "There is a great possibility of the situation escalating in the region, and we must be careful of this happening."

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies