Big -- exactly as we said, the US was informed about an Iranian attack by the Iraqis. The Iranians actually told the Iraqi PM about it, and the Iraqis passed the message to the US.
The statement in the next tweet:
The statement in the next tweet:
Official statement from the Iraqi prime minister:
"Shortly after midnight, we received a formal verbal message from the Islamic Republic of Iran that the Iranian response to the assassination of Qassem Suleimani has begun or will begin shortly, and that the strike will be ...
"Shortly after midnight, we received a formal verbal message from the Islamic Republic of Iran that the Iranian response to the assassination of Qassem Suleimani has begun or will begin shortly, and that the strike will be ...
... the strike will be limited to places where the US army is present in Iraq, without specifying the locations. Exactly at the same time, the US side called us as missiles were falling on the part where the US forces are housed in Ain al-Assad in Anbar & Harir in Erbil & others
... of course we had warned, immediately after we were told about the attack, the Iraqi military leaders to take the necessary measures. We haven't so far received any reports of human losses from the Iraqi side, nor from the Coalition side."
"There are ongoing domestic and foreign efforts to contain the situation and prevent an open war in which Iraq and the region will be its first victims."
Iraqi Prime Minister's statement continues: "Iraq, as it rejects any violation of its sovereignty and aggression on its territory, continues to exert all efforts to prevent escalation & everyone's respect for Iraq's sovereignty and not to expose its people to dangers."
So the Iraqi PM statement:
-- acknowledges Iran had informed Iraq of an imminent attack
-- avoids explicit/specific condemnation of Iran
-- No mention of anything about the need for the US to withdraw, which could have been included in this comprehensive & long-winded statement
-- acknowledges Iran had informed Iraq of an imminent attack
-- avoids explicit/specific condemnation of Iran
-- No mention of anything about the need for the US to withdraw, which could have been included in this comprehensive & long-winded statement
Trump acknowledges receipt of Iran’s face-saving “retaliation” and hints that the US will not respond to the fireworks.
The only casualty in this theatrics is Iraq.
The only casualty in this theatrics is Iraq.
Iran believed to have deliberately missed U.S. forces in Iraq strikes: sources reut.rs/2QzLikV
