Iraqi FM Summons US, UK Envoys Over Night Airstrikes

By Staff, Agencies

Iraq has summoned both the US and UK envoys to the country in the follow-up to airstrikes conducted by American forces and their British colleagues as well. According to an official statement on the Iraqi Foreign Ministry's website, minister Mohammed al-Hakim met with his undersecretaries on 13 March to discuss how to respond to the US forces' actions in the country.

The Iraqi military previously condemned the US airstrikes that targeted Iraqi-based group Kataib Hezbollah and state-sponsored Popular Mobilization Forces [PMF]. According to the military, the air raid resulted in the deaths of three soldiers, two policemen, and a civilian.

The strike came in response to the missile attack on the Camp Taji military base in Iraq on 11 March that led to the deaths of three servicemen - one UK and two US soldiers according to reports.

The US Department of War stated that its forces carried out strikes that were "defensive [and] proportional" in nature. The UK forces also took part in the raid, but this information has not yet been confirmed by London.