Contradictions Arise Between Iraq’s Abdel Mahdi, Pompeo over Embassy Attack

Arab World

January 29th, 8:35am

Baghdad – Hamza Mustafa

Iraqi security forces and protesters stand outside the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq January 1, 2020. DoD/Lt. Col. Adrian Weale/Handout via REUTERS.

Only hours after the media office of the resigned Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi published the content of a phone call he received from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the State Department disclosed the details of the same call. While the conversation was portrayed as positive from the Iraqi government’s point of view, whether it is Pompeo asking Iraq to reinforce security measures around embassies or Washington’s willingness to hold talks on US withdrawal, what was stated by the spokesperson for Secretary of State, Morgan Ortagus, seemed different. The statement issued by Abdul-Mahdi’s office reaffirmed the friendship shared between the two countries, adding that the call condemned the recent attacks that targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, and demanded boosting security measures of the Iraqi forces to protect diplomatic missions. On Jan 27, the US Embassy in Baghdad was attacked by rockets entering the Green Zone. At least one struck a military dining facility, known as DFAC. To date, the US has not released details of the attack, but Iraqi officials have announced some property damage. Meanwhile, Ortagus said Pompeo was outraged. "These attacks demonstrate a wanton disregard for Iraqi sovereignty and a failure to rein in these dangerous armed groups,” read Ortagus. "The Secretary noted that we view last night's attack on the Embassy as an attempt to distract Iraqi and international attention away from the brutal suppression of peaceful Iraqi protesters by Iran and its proxies," she added. According to the State Department, there are no deaths reported and only one person was injured during the attack. An official told CNN, that the injury was minor and the person has since returned to work. Likewise, Pompeo corroborated the information and urged the government of Iraq to “fulfill its obligations to protect our diplomatic facilities," the spokesperson said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2104866/contradictions-arise-between-iraq%E2%80%99s-abdel-mahdi-pompeo-over-embassy-attack