Tensions between the United States and Iran have been building for decades. Disagreements include Iran’s oil riches, U.S. involvement in Tehran politics, and Iran’s quest for nuclear power, as well as the rising prominence of both nations in the Middle East.
An attack on the U.S. embassy in Erbil, Iraq, was recorded on disturbing camera footage.
geolocation of a video showing missiles launched from Khasabad https://t.co/vChFIzfNcX https://t.co/gShLvpArI0 pic.twitter.com/iDWucRCdeM
— Samir (@obretix) March 12, 2022
The Associated Press verified that many missiles struck the diplomatic building. There have been no fatalities at any United States government site.
According to the A.P., “one of the authorities stated that the ballistic missiles were launched from Iran.” “The incident came three days after Israel killed two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in a strike near Damascus, Syria.”
“Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency described Iraqi media as recognizing the assaults but not specifying their source,” the Associated Press said. On Twitter, videos of the purported incident were posted.
According to a State Department official, the event “is now under investigation by the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government.”
“We condemn this heinous crime and outburst of violence,” the official continued.
The films “were uploaded by Iranian citizens and depicted missiles being fired from Iran during the strike, with at least one of the videos geolocated to a point in Khasabad, Iran’s East Azerbaijan region.”
“I think the Iranian strike on Erbil was in retaliation for Israel’s assassination of two Iranian colonels in Damascus,” Doran said in a subsequent tweet.
“Tehran’s warning to the Americans is: ‘Restrain the Israelis, or we will accelerate our campaign against you.’ I fear that the White House will place the responsibility squarely on Israel and not on Iran.”
“Could we perhaps put an end to this silly nonsense about how people are allegedly hyped up for war with Iran?” former U.S. deputy attorney Andrew McCarthy said.
“Iran is at war with us; what we ‘want’ is irrelevant. The question is, “What are we going to do about it?”
Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) urged the U.S. to halt “Russian-mediated discussions with Iran,” referring to the continuing Iranian nuclear deal negotiations.
“It would be naive to believe that Iran is not collaborating with a benefactor enraged by the West’s assistance to Ukraine,” he continued. “This is a litmus test by our adversaries: Iran is executing, Russia is advising, and China is observing. Biden must demonstrate determination.”
As Iran and its supporters marked the second anniversary of the assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mehdi al-Mouhandis, killed by American drone fire in Iraq in January 2020, Iraq experienced a spike in similar assaults at the beginning of the year.
U.S. soldiers progressively transitioned to an advisory role last year after the Biden administration decided in July to conclude the country’s combat mission in Iraq by the end of December. The forces will continue to support Iraq’s fight against ISIS by providing air support and other military assistance.
