Katyusha cells in Iraq worry Biden

Although the Pentagon did not explicitly accuse Iran yesterday evening of being involved in recent missile attacks on an international coalition military base in Erbil, as well as targeting the US embassy in the Green Zone on Monday. , did confirm that the missiles Usually used in Iraq by the militias or what is known locally as “Katyusha cells”, of Iranian manufacture and originating in Tehran.

In turn, US President Joe Biden, during a call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, stressed the need to hold those involved in the launching of the rockets accountable, the White House reported on Wednesday.

He also explained that Biden and Al-Kazemi discussed recent missile attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces over the phone.

Yesterday, the Iraqi official considered that the absurd missiles that are occasionally aimed at military bases and diplomatic barracks are an attempt to hinder the advance of the government and embarrass it, stressing that the security services will reach the perpetrators and will be brought before the citizens. opinion.

He also stressed that the land of Iraq will not be a setting to settle accounts, according to a statement issued yesterday by his office.

The Green Zone, in the center of the capital, Baghdad, was hit with rockets on Monday night, causing material damage. Iraqi security services stated that at least two rockets landed inside the Green Zone, where foreign embassies are located, including the United States.

A security source within the Green Zone told AFP at the time that the US embassy’s missile defense system did not fire to intercept the missiles because they were not aimed at landing within the diplomatic compound.

He also explained that at least one missile hit the headquarters of the Iraqi National Security Agency near the headquarters of the US diplomatic mission, damaging several parked cars.

This attack came a week after more than a dozen missiles targeted a military complex at Erbil airport in northern Iraq, where foreign forces from the US-led coalition are stationed.

On Saturday, another batch of missiles was fired at the Al-Balad air base north of Baghdad, where Iraq keeps most of the F-16s it had bought from the United States in recent years.

Over the past few months, there have been missile attacks on bases that host US forces, while Washington has accused pro-Iranian militias of carrying them out.

Most of the attacks do not cause casualties, but the most recent missile attack on Monday was the third attack in just over a week against areas hosting US forces, diplomats or contractors in the Green Zone.