On the 15th, four days after the United States and Britain launched an airstrike against pro-Iran Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the early morning of the 11th, Iran also began using force by attacking the northern Iraqi city of Erbil. On the same day, the Houthi rebels attacked an American merchant ship sailing in the Red Sea with a missile, making the situation in the Middle East increasingly serious.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said in a statement that day, “We used ballistic missiles to destroy three Mossad bases (Israeli intelligence agency) and an anti-Iranian terrorist group in the Erbil region.” The Revolutionary Guard also added, “We also attacked the perpetrators of Iranian terrorist operations in Syria, especially the IS (Islamic State) terrorist organization.”
According to Reuters, at least four people were killed and six injured in this attack in Erbil. Real estate developer Peshrau Dizai, a Kurdish billionaire, also lost his life in this attack. The owner of the Falcon Group, which is in charge of developing the central district of Erbil, is known to have assets worth about $2.3 billion (approximately 3.0564 trillion won).
Erbil is one of the main bases of the US military, home to the US consulate in Iraq. From 2003 to 2008, the Korean Zaytun unit was also dispatched and active here. According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Iran has pointed to Erbil as a base for anti-Iran forces in Iraq and an activity site for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
ABC reported, “Several explosions occurred near the U.S. consulate and American residences,” and “The area around the U.S. military base near Erbil International Airport was also attacked.” However, it was reported that there were no casualties at U.S. military facilities or American lives. The U.S. State Department immediately issued a statement saying, “We strongly condemn Iran’s attack on Erbil and send our condolences to the families of those killed,” and “We oppose missile strikes that undermine the stability of Iraq.”
This Iranian airstrike is believed to be retaliation for the bombing that occurred in the country on the 3rd. A bomb exploded, killing about 80 people, during the 4th anniversary memorial service for Qasem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force commander, a ‘national hero’ who was assassinated by the US military in Kerman, Iran. Iran has threatened to retaliate against IS, which claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks, and has recently claimed that “Israeli IS members are involved in the terrorist attacks.”
On this day, Yemeni Houthi rebels attacked a container ship owned by an American company with a missile in the Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command said, “The M/V Gibraltar Eagle was hit by a Houthi rebel missile near the Gulf of Aden, 177km southeast of Aden in southern Yemen,” and added, “Fortunately, there were no casualties.” Immediately after the attack, a high-ranking Houthi rebel said, “We attacked US ships with multiple missiles. “The strike was accurate and direct,” he said. “All ships affiliated with the United States and the United Kingdom are considered hostile targets.”
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.