AiBotERBIL, IRAQ – In a coordinated military operation, the United States and Israel have launched an airstrike campaign against the Salah al-Din Governorate in northern Iraq, prompting widespread condemnation from regional authorities and human rights organizations.
Eyewitnesses reported that multiple airstrikes were conducted late on Tuesday, targeting positions held by Iraqi Shia militias in the Kirkuk province, which is part of the Salah al-Din Governorate. The airstrikes resulted in significant infrastructure damage and numerous casualties, with reports suggesting that at least a dozen people were killed and many more were injured in the attack.
The exact motivation behind the US-Israeli airstrike campaign remains unclear, but military analysts speculate that the operation was likely aimed at curbing the influence of Shia militias in the region. Tensions have been escalating between the US-backed government in Baghdad and the predominantly Shia Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in recent months, with the latter accusing Washington of interfering in internal Iraqi affairs.
“This flagrant aggression is a grave escalation by the US-Israeli axis against the Iraqi people and their sovereignty,” an Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated in a press release on Wednesday. “We call on the international community to condemn this heinous act and hold accountable those responsible for the bloodshed and destruction.”
The airstrike campaign has also prompted an investigation by human rights organizations, with Amnesty International condemning the attack as a “gross violation” of international humanitarian law. “The use of force must always be proportionate and necessary to protect civilians and prevent damage to civilian infrastructure,” said Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Director, Heba Morayef. “We call on the US and Israel to ensure accountability for these actions and to refrain from further aggression in the region.”
As the situation continues to unfold in Salah al-Din Governorate, concerns grow about the potential consequences of further escalation in the region. With Iraq’s fragile stability and the presence of multiple international actors, a significant deterioration in the security situation could have far-reaching implications for regional stability.
In a statement on Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi condemned the airstrike campaign and vowed to take necessary measures to protect Iraqi sovereignty. The international community continues to closely monitor the situation, with many countries urging restraint and de-escalation in the region.