Iraqi PMO-US Strikes On Iran-Linked Militias 'Irresponsible Escalation'

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani has called the US strikes on three facilities in Iraq linked to Iranian-backed militias an "irresponsible escalation". As Reuters reports, "U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked about 150 times by Iran-aligned militants since the Israel-Gaza war started in October, creating pressure on President Joe Biden to respond militarily, despite political sensitivities in Baghdad."

• In a statement, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said that the US "...will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend [coalition troops] and our interests. We do not seek to escalate conflict in the region. We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities."
• The internal political situation in Iraq remains chaotic, with PM al-Sudani having saidin late 2023 that his gov't planned to 'end the presence' of US troops in Iraq. The Pentagon says that it has not officially been informed of these intentions.
• Given that al-Sudani's remains reliant on the backing pro-Iran parties in Parliament, over which the gov't has little control, these comments can be seen as attempting to appease opponents to the US presence. Nevertheless, the talk of removing coalition troops will likely cause some concern for the Pentagon amid a broader escalation in Middle East tensions.