BAGHDAD: Iraq accused the United States of contributing to a "reckless escalation" of violence in the region after American air strikes targeted groups in the country on Wednesday.
The pre-dawn air raid came against an already explosive regional backdrop, fuelled by the war in Gaza between Washington's ally Israel and Palestinian movement groups.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said US forces had carried out "necessary and proportionate strikes" against "three facilities used by the groups in Iraq."
"These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria, " he said, referring to the US-led coalition.
US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted in more than 150 attacks since mid-October, many of them claimed by the Resistance in Iraq that oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
US forces have carried out a number of air strikes against the groups they hold responsible, drawing a backlash from Iraq which has demanded the coalition's withdrawal, accusing it of overstepping its mission to assist the campaign against IS.
"This unacceptable act undermines years of cooperation, blatantly violates Iraq's sovereignty and contributes to a reckless escalation... at a time when the region is already grappling with the danger of expanding conflict, " said a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani.
"We will treat these operations as acts of aggression and take necessary actions to preserve the lives and dignity of Iraqis, " added Yehia Rasool, the Iraqi leader's spokesman for military affairs.
His comments were echoed by Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji who said the pre-dawn strikes were another "flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty" and "do not help bring calm".
"The US side should pile on pressure for a halt to the (Israeli) offensive in Gaza rather than targeting and bombing the bases of an Iraqi national body, " Araji said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
According to Iraqi sources, the US hit sites in the Jurf al-Sakhr area, south of Baghdad, as well as in the Al-Qaim area on the border with Syria.
After previous US strikes, the Iraqi prime minister has called for the US-led coalition to leave, saying the deployment must end to ensure Iraq's security.
There are roughly 2, 500 US troops in Iraq and some 900 in neighbouring Syria. — AFP
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