Iraq condemns latest US strikes as 'irresponsible escalation'
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00:00 The US has justified the strikes on both Yemen and Iraq as a response to a series of attacks
00:07 against US personnel since the Israel-Hamas war began.
00:11 Washington's been trying to keep the war from spilling over into a wider conflict, but Iraq
00:16 says the US's actions are having an adverse effect.
00:20 Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the strikes on Iraqi territory an "unacceptable
00:25 act" undermining years of cooperation, blatantly violating Iraq's sovereignty and contributing
00:30 to an irresponsible escalation.
00:34 Iraq's national security adviser told the US to focus on pressuring Israel to stop its
00:38 offensive in Gaza instead, while the spokesperson for Iraq's military declared it would treat
00:44 these operations as acts of aggression and take necessary actions to preserve the lives
00:48 and dignities of Iraqis on their land.
00:52 The US airstrikes hit in the areas of Jurf al-Sakr and al-Qa'im, targeting three facilities
00:58 used by Iranian-backed militia groups, according to Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, as a direct
01:03 response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq.
01:10 There are roughly 2,500 US troops in Iraq, who coordinate operations with Iraqi security
01:16 forces to counter the Islamic State group.
01:20 Iraq accuses the US of overstepping its mission and has demanded its withdrawal.
01:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]