The government and observers warn of difficult challenges as factional attacks continue

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[size=52]The government and observers warn of difficult challenges as factional attacks continue[/size]

[size=45]Translated by / Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]At a time when the Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, warned that Iraq is passing through a dangerous period of time and a crossroads with several simultaneous challenges and that there are those who are trying to confiscate the role of the state and its national decision-making, political observers warned of the possibility of there being a strong response by the United States. The United States if its embassy in Baghdad is repeatedly targeted.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sudani said during his meeting with the leadership of the Federal Police at the Ministry of Interior on Sunday, marking the sixth anniversary of the elimination of the terrorist organization ISIS, that Iraq is going through a period of serious challenges that must be confronted.[/size]
[size=45]He added, "There are individuals, groups, and entities trying to establish themselves as guardians of Iraq and to confiscate the state's decision and the state's constitutional and legal institutions." Pointing out that the state will stand up to this challenge and those who are trying to assume the role of the state.[/size]
[size=45]The report published on The National News website indicates that Al-Sudani's recent statements represent the first time that he denounces the actions of armed factions linked to allied political parties in his government and describes the attacks as terrorist.[/size]
[size=45]The escalation of attacks by Iranian-backed armed factions against facilities and bases where American forces are present comes in the wake of Washington’s support for Israel in its war on Gaza at a time when armed factions insist on continuing attacks, which puts the government in a very difficult position.[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, political observers warned that the United States would respond strongly to these groups if they repeatedly targeted the American embassy in Baghdad, especially after they were described by the government as “terrorist” acts.[/size]
[size=45]Kazem Al-Juhaishi, an Iraqi analyst in political and security affairs, told The New Arab news website, “I do not think that the United States will respond now or target the armed group, and what proves this is the phone call between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Sudanese Prime Minister, which was just a warning.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Juhaishi added, “I look at this call as a warning message from the United States that Washington will respond and that its response will be strong if the armed group repeats its targeting of the American embassy in Baghdad.”[/size]
[size=45]While it appeared to be the most violent attack of its kind in recent memory, an American military official told Reuters that several mortar shells fell in the vicinity of the American embassy in Baghdad on Friday morning.[/size]
[size=45]Following the attack, which did not result in any casualties, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a phone call with the Iraqi Prime Minister, in which they both denounced the attack.[/size]
[size=45]While Austin said that American forces have the right to respond in self-defense to these attacks, Al-Sudani warned against taking any direct response without obtaining approval from Baghdad, according to two official statements from the Pentagon and the Prime Minister’s Office.[/size]
[size=45]The Prime Minister’s Office statement said, “During the call, the Iraqi Prime Minister affirmed the government’s pledge to protect diplomatic missions and individuals within the international coalition mission and its facilities, and that the security services are capable of pursuing and exposing those involved in these attacks, whoever they may be.” At the same time, he warned against taking any direct response without government approval and stressed the importance of not repeating what happened in Jurf al-Nasr.[/size]
[size=45]Iraqi Army spokesman, Major General Yahya Rasoul, said in a statement on Saturday that the Prime Minister had ordered an investigation into the embassy attack, indicating that security measures would be firm against the elements who committed this terrorist act and they would be subject to the law.[/size]
[size=45]Mujahid Al-Taie, an Iraqi political analyst, expected in a call with The New Arab news website that there would be a response to the Iraqi armed factions.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Taie said in his tweet on the social networking site X, formerly Twitter: “I expect that the United States will respond by striking the party responsible for carrying out the attacks, especially after it was classified by Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani as terrorist, which means that it is a green light to respond to it.” It is noteworthy that no party claimed responsibility for the attack on the embassy, ​​but the finger of blame is directed towards armed factions supported by Iran.[/size]
[size=45]American officials pointed out that since mid-October, American interests and installations in Iraq and Syria have been subjected to more than 80 attacks, most of which were claimed by Iraqi armed factions, as a result of Washington’s support for Israel in its war on Gaza.[/size]
[size=45]America has approximately 2,500 soldiers deployed in Iraq with a training and advisory mission to assist the Iraqi forces in their war against ISIS, and it also has 900 other soldiers in the neighboring country, Syria, within the same mission.[/size]
[size=45]• From The National and New Arab news website[/size]
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