Iran Informed Iraqi Prime Minister Just Before 'US Base Attack'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Iraqi Prime Minister's Office announced on the 8th (local time) that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard verbally notified Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi just before launching a missile attack on the US military base stationed in Iraq.

The Prime Minister's Office confirmed, "Iran conveyed to Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi that 'an operation to retaliate for the killing of Commander Qasem Soleimani has begun. The targets are limited to locations where US troops are stationed,' but did not specify the exact locations."

According to the Prime Minister's Office, Iraq received the notification of the attack plan from Iran shortly after midnight on the same day. This timing differs by about an hour from when the missiles were launched.

However, the Prime Minister's Office did not disclose what stance Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi conveyed regarding this attack.

The Prime Minister's Office stated, "Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi simultaneously received a call from the US side reporting that (Iranian) missiles had fallen on Ain al-Asad Airbase and Harir Airbase in Erbil." It added, "Iraq opposes violations of its sovereignty and attacks occurring on Iraqi territory," and "we will do our best to avoid a destructive full-scale war."

Earlier, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper informed Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi by phone of the operation plan just before attacking the military facilities of the Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq on the 29th of last month. Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi claimed that he strongly opposed this but the US proceeded with the attack.