Baghdad Denies Coordinating With Washington On US Attacks On Western Iraq

The community cleared debris from buildings that collapsed due to US airstrikes in the city of Al-Qaim, western Iraq on Saturday, February 3, 2024. (France24/AP)

JAKARTA - Baghdad on Saturday denied having coordinated anything with the United States before the US launched its attack on western Iraq, Saturday, February 3, 2024.

US planes bombed a number of Iraqi bases in badminton and Al-Qaim as well as nearby civilian settlements, Iraqi government spokesman Bassem Al-Awadi said.

With the attack, "the US government is carrying out new aggression against Iraqi sovereignty," Iraqi news agency INA said, citing Awadi's statement.

"This open aggressive action left 16 people dead, including civilians, and 25 injured, as well as causing damage to buildings and property," Awadi said as reported by Antara.

He accused the US of lying "by announcing initial coordination to carry out this aggression."

The US on Friday began airstrikes against Iranian Revolutionary QudsGarda Forces and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan late last month.

More than 85 targets have been attacked using more than 125 precision ammunition, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

An arsenal of Shiite militia forces, Hashd al-Shaabi, was attacked late Friday in a US attack on western Iraq, according to a post on Telegram from the Nujaba Movement, a Shia militia group in Iraq backed by Iran.