Iraq Condemns Deadly Attack on American Forces in Jordan

The Iraqi government condemned a drone attack on a base hosting American forces in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers. According to Reuters, the Iraqi government described the attack as part of escalating tensions that threaten the stability of the Middle East and called for an end to the 'cycle of violence.' A spokesperson for the Iraqi government stated, 'The Iraqi government condemns the escalation of tensions, especially the recent attack on the border of Syria and Jordan, and is closely monitoring concerning security developments in the region.' Previously, the Iraqi government had condemned a missile attack by the IRGC on the home of an investor in the Kurdistan region. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry had earlier announced that it had sent a complaint to the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General regarding 'Iran's missile aggression against the city of Erbil and the deaths of innocent civilians' in the form of two similar letters. The IRGC claimed, without providing any evidence, that it targeted a 'Mossad base' in the attack that killed civilians, a claim strongly rejected by the Iraqi government and officials in the Kurdistan region. The United States has accused Iran-backed militia groups in Syria and Iraq of carrying out the deadly attack on the base known as Tower 22 in Jordan. This attack marks the first deadly blow to American forces since the onset of the Gaza war, a conflict that has impacted violence across the Middle East. The U.S. government stated it would respond to this attack at a time and place of its choosing. Many in the U.S. have called for targeting IRGC positions inside Iran, and the Wall Street Journal editorialized that 'everyone knows the real leadership of Iran's attacks.' It called for an attack on the ship 'Bashad,' which is said to be an Iranian spy vessel in waters near Yemen assisting the Houthis in targeting commercial ships. The Wall Street Journal also reported on Monday, citing a U.S. defense official, that the U.S. is still searching for evidence to determine whether the attack in Jordan was directed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. A senior U.S. Treasury official's trip to the Middle East aims to counter 'sanctions evasion' by the Islamic Republic. France also strongly condemned the attack on American soldiers.