On Friday, March 6, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the country's air force to bomb positions of the Islamic State (ISIS) within Syrian territory. According to Reuters, al-Abadi issued this order in retaliation for recent bombings in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. A source close to the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that the Iraqi airstrikes were coordinated with the government of Bashar al-Assad. The Islamic State, which has been on the defensive following recent defeats, particularly in the city of Mosul, has claimed responsibility for several recent bombings in Baghdad. In a statement, the Iraqi Prime Minister said, "Our resolve is to pursue terrorism that seeks to kill our children and citizens wherever they are; therefore, I have instructed the air force command to bomb the positions of the Islamic State in Al-Haseebah and Al-Bukamal within Syrian territory." He added, "The heroes of the air force have carried out this operation and have successfully responded to the terrorists." According to Reuters, a source close to the Syrian Foreign Ministry mentioned that there was "full coordination" with the Damascus government for this operation, although no details were provided. A separate statement from the Joint Operations Command indicated that the attacks occurred early Friday using F-16 fighter jets, targeting Islamic State bases in Al-Bukamal. A security official told Reuters, "The Islamic State bases in Al-Bukamal, where vehicles were being bombed... were targeted after receiving information from the Iraqi intelligence and security agency from its sources in Syria." Iraqi forces, supported by the U.S.-led international coalition, have pushed ISIS militants back from many cities they had captured during 2014 and 2015. The Iraqi Army's operations against this group are currently focused on the city of Mosul. Last month, Iraqi government forces liberated eastern Mosul from ISIS and are now fighting the group in the western part of the city. Mosul is divided into two parts by the Tigris River. In this context, Iraqi forces have regained the Mosul airport and a military base from ISIS.
Iraqi Prime Minister Orders Airstrikes on ISIS Positions in Syria
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has ordered airstrikes on ISIS positions in Syria in response to recent bombings in Baghdad. The strikes were coordinated with the Syrian government and are part of ongoing efforts to combat ISIS after recent territorial losses. This action highlights the collaboration between Iraq and Syria against a common enemy.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered airstrikes against ISIS positions in Syria as retaliation for bombings in Baghdad. The strikes were coordinated with the Syrian government and aimed at weakening ISIS after recent territorial losses.
- The airstrikes targeted ISIS bases in Al-Bukamal, Syria.
- Iraqi forces are currently engaged in operations to liberate western Mosul from ISIS.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
ISIS emerged as a significant threat in the region during the early 2010s, capturing large territories in Iraq and Syria. The fight against ISIS has involved multiple actors, including local governments and international coalitions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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