Katyusha Missiles Target Baghdad International Airport, Kadhimi Orders Investigation

Baghdad International Airport runway, EPA
Baghdad International Airport runway, EPA
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Katyusha Missiles Target Baghdad International Airport, Kadhimi Orders Investigation

Baghdad International Airport runway, EPA
Baghdad International Airport runway, EPA

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi ordered on Monday a security investigation into the party responsible for the missile attack on Baghdad International Airport.

The Security Media Cell said that the Joint Operations Command, heeding the Kadhimi’s call, is launching an investigation to determine the party that is responsible for firing 3 Katyusha rockets at Baghdad International Airport, which caused material losses.

The Cell also revealed that it was found that the three rockets were launched from the Zaytoun area in the Abu Ghraib district, west of the capital. One of the rockets fell on the airport’s parking lot, damaging four civilian cars.

It remains unclear if the investigation will truly lead to holding the responsible party accountable given that many similar militia attacks, chiefly aimed at getting the US to withdraw from Iraq, have gone unpunished.

Baghdad International Airport has been exposed to repeated bombing recently, and on August 18 and 30 missiles fell in its vicinity.

These attacks came as part of a series of unknown rockets targeting the airport, in addition to the military bases.

It is noteworthy that the launched investigation is the second of its kind in under a week.

The latest rocket attack is believed to be directed by an armed faction seeking to take over the airport and expel the currently present British security service “G4S.”

“The militias' insistence on bombing the airport is primarily aimed at expelling the British security protection company "G4S" to acquire the airport protection contract through its affiliated subsidiaries,” a well-informed source at the Baghdad International Airport told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Last week, the militia faction deliberately bombed the company's headquarters to pressure it into terminating the existing protection contract,” the source added.

They also pointed out to Iran-backed armed factions launching an organized defamation campaign against G4S, which runs a publicly clean record since taking over security at the airport some 15 years ago.

Last Thursday, a similar attack targeted the G4S building at the airport. It resulted in severe damage.



US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
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US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed that the United States was dedicated to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon and urged Israel to improve "dire" conditions in Gaza, in a call Saturday with his Israeli counterpart.

Austin "reiterated US commitment to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border" in his call with Israel Katz, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

Austin also "urged the Government of Israel to continue to take steps to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and emphasized the US commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including US citizens."

Lebanon said Saturday that an Israeli air strike in the heart of Beirut that brought down a residential building and jolted residents across the city killed at least 11 people.

Israel stepped up its campaign against the Hezbollah militant group in late September, targeting its strongholds in Lebanon.

Lebanon's health ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas.

The United Nations and others have repeatedly decried humanitarian conditions, particularly in northern Gaza, where Israel said Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

In the call with Katz, Austin also discussed ongoing Israeli operations and reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security," the Pentagon said.