Iraq’s prime minister highlights security, warns of firm response if necessary after rocket attack

A week after several rockets targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has warned that his government is ready for a “decisive confrontation” if necessary to ensure the country's security after several people were arrested in connection with the attack. 

In a tweet on Friday night, al-Kadhimi said his government is responsible for the country's security, and that it has worked hard to restore public confidence in the country's army and security services.

"We will not submit to adventures or diligence. We have worked silently and calmly to restore the confidence of the people, security services and the army in the state after it was shaken by the adventures of outlaws," he said.

“We called for calm to prevent our country from being thrown into another absurd adventure, but we are ready for a decisive confrontation if necessary,” he added.

Earlier this week, the Iraqi prime minister said several suspects and security officials had been arrested in connection with the latest rocket attack against the US embassy in Baghdad, which the Iraqi military says were launched by an “outlaw” group.

Kadhimi said that “a group of suspects” had been arrested for their role in the attack, but did not specify the exact number of suspects.

He also said the Iraqi military had also arrested the officials responsible for ensuring the security of the area from which the rockets were launched.

On December 20, the US embassy complex was targeted with a series of Katyusha rockets, which caused some damage to buildings inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.

The US embassy has been targeted several times this year amid anti-American sentiments that have soared in the Arab country following the US assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units, and Major General Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s top anti-terror commander, in the capital on January 3.

Washington fears another attempt against its diplomatic missions and military bases in Iraq as the first anniversary of the martyrdom of the two popular commanders nears.

Reports circulated recently saying that the US embassy in Baghdad was evacuated after the rocket attack. It prompted the embassy to release a statement to Fox News to dismiss the reports as a rumor.

“Ambassador [Matthew] Tueller is still in Baghdad and the embassy continues to operate,” an embassy spokesperson said on Friday.

Kate' Al-Rikabi, a top Iraqi lawmaker, also rejected the reports, saying they were aimed at forcing the Iraqi government to give in to the United States’ demands.

“Foreign media outlets are trying to provoke public opinion in Iraq by spreading rumors of the US embassy closure,” he said, according to Baghdad al-Youm website.

Iraqis suspicious of US plan to close embassy in Baghdad

A senior Iraqi lawmaker says reports of the US bid to shut down its embassy in Baghdad following recent rocket attacks are “groundless” rumors aimed at forcing the Iraqi government to give in to Washington’s demands.

On Saturday, Almaalomah news agency cited an informed security source as saying that the American forces are busy reinforcing al-Harir base in Erbil, capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. The source made the comments on the condition of anonymity.

“Since a few days ago, US reinforcements entered al-Harir base from northern Syria, and US forces have been conducting air patrols at night for more than a week,” Almaalomah quoted the source as saying, IRNA reported.

Meanwhile, the targeting of the US embassy has already sparked a war of words between Washington and Tehran, with US President Donald Trump blaming Iran for the attack and warning of retaliation if “one American is killed.”

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif suggested that Trump’s remarks – which were made via Twitter – were reminiscent of the Bush administration’s accusations against Iraq, which led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Zarif also said Trump “recklessly” accused Iran by attaching a photo to his tweet, which showed three allegedly failed rockets that the US president claimed came from Iran.

Iran rejects US blame game over rocket attack on embassy in Iraq

Iran dismisses US President Trump’s accusations against Tehran regarding a recent rocket attack on the American embassy in Baghdad.

Trump’s rockets photo drew a barrage of warnings and mockery on Twitter as well.

Garland Nixon, a political analyst, wrote, “The ‘Iranian’ rockets that were conveniently printed in English came with a note that said: ‘Please attack us and start a war.’ Sincerely, the Mossad, Oops I mean Iranians.”

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