European Union Ambassador to Iraq: Escalating attacks threaten to worsen political instability

BAGHDAD — Due to the continuous escalation of attacks targeting Western interests, U.S. interests in particular, inside Iraq, the European Union Ambassador to Iraq Martin Hoth stated via Twitter that the attacks on military bases, airports, and embassies in recent weeks threaten the political stability of Iraq.

U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson John Kirby pointed out during a press conference that the U.S. is deeply concerned about the attacks that have been carried out on its personnel, stressing that they are being conducted using lethal weapons.

He stated that the U.S. considers the attacks on its military and civilian personnel in Iraq and Syria a serious threat.

In related news, a source close to the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi revealed some details of what took place in the meeting between him and the head of the intelligence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corpse (IRGC) Hussein Taeb. The source indicated that al-Kadhimi conveyed a message to Taeb about the role of the pro-Iranian militia and its targeting of the diplomatic missions and the U.S.-led International Coalition in Iraq, pointing out that the targeting affects the course of the U.S.–Iranian negotiations and the schedule for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.

Taeb reportedly denied to al-Kadhimi that the rocket attacks are not being conducted by the IRGC and that Tehran believes that the attacks are aimed at hindering U.S.–Iran negotiations.