Amidst Criticisms, Pompeo discusses US attacks on Iranian-militias with world leaders

Russia denounces 'unacceptable' exchanges of strikes

Iraq warns of 'dangerous' consequences

Syria cautions US against interfering in Iraq's internal affairs

Iran condemns US support for 'terrorism'

Kataib Hezbollah says battle with US 'now open'

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani decries 'atrocious aggression'

Popular Mobilization Forces threatens 'tough response' on US forces

JP / Reuters / Aljazeera:  Amidst heavy criticisms from Russia Iraq, Iran, Syria and pro-Iranian militant groups in the middle East, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the United Nations and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates about recent American attacks on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in response to rocket fire on bases hosting American forces.

According to the Iraqi security and militia sources, at least 25 killed and 55 fighters were wounded in the air attacks, adding that one of the raids had targeted the group's headquarters near the western al-Qaim district on the border with Syria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday and congratulated him on the US attack on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

In his remarks, Netanyahu praised the US's important action against Iran and its militias in the Persian Gulf region. On December 29, the US carried out five airstrikes against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi-based Shi'ite militia that is linked to Iran and is accused of rocket attacks that killed a US contractor and wounded US soldiers.

Pompeo tweeted on Tuesday morning that "Netanyahu and I had a productive call today. We discussed US defensive strikes in Iraq and Syria to counter Iran’s threats. The US will take decisive action to defend its citizens and interests."

Earlier, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz  said Pentagon's announcement that US forces have attacked 5 centers of the Hizbullah organization in Iraq and Syria, in response to attacks on Iraqi coalition forces, is a turning point in regional reality against Iran's conduct and metastasis.

 Adding that if the Iranians make a mistake in understanding the nature and power of the United States, they will suffer blows that have never been absorbed.

@Israel_katz
הודעת הפנטגון שכוחות אמריקאים תקפו 5 מוקדים של ארגון כתאב-חיזבאללה בעירק ובסוריה, כתגובה על התקפות כנגד כוחות הקואליציה בעירק, היא נקודת מפנה במציאות האזורית מול התנהלות איראן וגרורותיה. אם האיראנים יטעו בהבנת מהותה ועוצמתה של ארה״ב הם יספגו מהלומות שלא ספגו מעולם.
The secretary of state discussed the recent attacks by the US on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday night.

"I made clear that our defensive action was aimed at deterring Iran and protecting American lives," tweeted Pompeo.

The secretary of state and crown prince expressed their "deep concerns" regarding the Kataib Hezbollah attacks on Coalition Forces in Iraq, according to a State Department spokesperson.

Pompeo and Al Nahyan agreed that the American actions "to protect coalition interests were defensive, proportionate, and justified," according to the spokesperson. 

Pompeo thanked the crown prince for the UAE’s support and engagement concerning many regional challenges and agreed to continue to "work together to counter Iran’s malign behavior."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Pompeo discussed the attacks on Tuesday and agreed that "the Iranian regime and its proxies continue to be a destabilizing force in the region and that nations have a right to defend themselves in the face of these threats."

Pompeo stressed to the Saudi crown prince that attacks by Iran or its proxies that harm Americans or American allies or interests will "be answered with a decisive response, as demonstrated yesterday." 

He also thanked the crown prince for Saudi Arabia's support and engagement with many regional challenges.

Saudi Arabia condemned attacks launched last week by Iranian regime-backed militias against American forces in Iraq, an official source said in statement published by the state-owned Saudi Press Agency.

The US military carried out airstrikes on Sunday against the Kataib Hezbollah militia in response to the killing of a US civilian contractor in a Friday rocket attack on an Iraqi military base, officials said.

US-Iran tensions have been rising since Washington pulled out of a landmark nuclear agreement with Tehran last year and began reimposing crippling sanctions.

The attack has further fuelled tensions between traditional rivals Washington and Tehran. Commenting on the development, another powerful pro-Iran faction in Iraq, Asaib Ahl al-Haq - whose leaders were recently hit with US sanctions - called for the US to withdraw from the country, while Lebanon's powerful Shia group Hezbollah condemned the US for attacking groups that helped it defeat the the ISIL (ISIS) group.

Iraq warns of 'dangerous' consequences

Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Monday condemned the US air strikes and said the attack would have "dangerous" consequences.

"The prime minister described the American attack on the Iraqi armed forces as an unacceptable vicious assault that will have dangerous consequences," Mahdi's office said in a statement.

Iraq's National Security Council said targeting Iraqi paramilitary groups will force it to reconsider its relationship and work with the US-led international anti-ISIL coalition stationed there. It added the attacks were a violation of sovereignty and that US forces acted based on their own political priorities and conclusions.

Protecting Iraq, its military bases, and all troops stationed there is exclusively the responsibility of Iraqi security forces, the council said.

Russia denounces 'unacceptable' exchanges of strikes

Russia's foreign ministry on Monday described the "exchange of strikes" between Hezbollah and US forces in Iraq as "unacceptable", and called for restraint from both sides.

"We consider such actions unacceptable and counterproductive. We call upon all parties to refrain from further actions that could sharply destabilise the military-political situation in Iraq, Syria, and the neighbouring countries," a ministry statement said.

Russia is a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria cautions US against interfering in Iraq's internal affairs

Syria condemned the US air attacks on the region, and expressed solidarity with Iraq and its people, state news agency SANA reported.

An official at the foreign ministry said on Monday: "Syria denounces the US attack on the Popular Mobilization Forces [PMF] which defend Iraq's sovereignty and independence, as well as denouncing any aggression that targets the sovereignty, independence, and freedom of Iraq and its people," SANA reported.

"Syria expresses its full solidarity with Iraq's people and institutes, and reiterates its demands for the US to not interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq," the source said, according to SANA.

Iran condemns US support for 'terrorism'

Iran, which denies involvement in attacks on US forces, condemned the raids as "terrorism".

"This claim without any evidence cannot justify bombing and killing people in violation of international law," said Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

"These attacks have once again proved America's false claims in fighting Daesh ... as the United States has targeted the positions of forces that over the years have inflicted heavy blows to Daesh terrorists," Iran's government spokesman Abbas Mousavi said separately on Monday, referring to ISIL.

"With these attacks, America has shown its firm support for terrorism and its neglect for the independence and sovereignty of countries and it must accept consequences for its illegal act," Mousavi said in a statement.

The spokesman said the presence of foreign forces in the region was the cause of insecurity and tensions.

"America must put an end to its occupying presence," said Mousavi.

Kataib Hezbollah says battle with US 'now open'

In a statement on Sunday night, Kataib Hezbollah said its battle with the US is "now open".

"Our battle with America and its mercenaries is now open to all possibilities," the targeted group said in a statement.

"We have no alternative today other than confrontation and there is nothing that will prevent us from responding to this crime."

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani decries 'atrocious aggression'

Iraq's top Shia cleric called on the Iraqi government to step in and prevent the country from turning into "an arena for settling accounts" between regional and international powers.

In a statement, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemned the "atrocious aggression" by the US and called for respect for Iraq's sovereignty and abstention from violating it "under the pretext of responding to some illegal practices by some sides".

Al-Sistani, however, added that "only Iraqi authorities are entitled to deal with these practices and take necessary measures to prevent them".

The cleric's comments appeared to be a warning against any retaliation by Iran-backed paramilitary groups.

Popular Mobilization Forces threatens 'tough response' on US forces

Senior PMF commander Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi, also known as Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, vowed on Sunday to seek revenge against US forces in Iraq.

"Our response will be very tough on the American forces in Iraq," Mohandes said.

Mohandes is a senior commander of Iraq's PMF, an umbrella grouping of paramilitary organisations that mostly consists of Iranian-backed Shia militias and that was integrated into Iraq's armed forces.

He is also one of Iran's most powerful allies in Iraq and formerly headed Kataib Hezbollah, which he founded.