Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted on Thursday of hitting Iranian-linked targets in Iraq, following several weeks of silence.
In an interview with Russian-language Channel 9, Netanyahu was asked whether Israel would operate against Iranian targets in Iraq if needed.
His response was: “I don’t grant Iran immunity anywhere. Iran is a state, a power, that has sworn to annihilate Israel. It’s trying to establish bases against us everywhere. In Iran itself, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq, in Yemen.”
A series of blasts in the past few weeks have hit weapons depots and bases belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq that are backed by Israel’s regional foe Iran.
An Iraqi presidential statement said the president, parliament speaker and prime minister discussed the country’s security situation on Thursday.
"President Barham Salih, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohammed al-Halbousi held extensive discussions on Thursday at the Peace Palace in Baghdad on the security situation in the country, especially the bombings on weapons depots during the past few days,” the statement said.
The three officials emphasized the need to investigate and study all the data and information obtained by the national authorities with regard to the recent exposure to weapons stores.
"Iraq continues to adhere to the document of unified national policy on regional security developments, and the importance of strengthening internal political cohesion and consistency on the principle of respect for the sovereignty, security and independence of Iraq,” the statement said, rejecting the principle of proxy war, and the attempt of any regional or international party to drag Iraq into conflicts.
The three officials also agreed to await the results of the ongoing investigation by the competent national authorities to come up with a unified position that preserves the rights of Iraq and enhances its security, independence and sovereignty on its national soil.
The presidential statement came hours after the Popular Mobilization Forces issued conflicting positions on the recent bombings in Iraq.
PMF chairman Faleh al-Fayyad said that investigations are ongoing on the series of attacks on its bases.
Fayyadh said a statement by his deputy, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, did not represent the view of the PMF.
In laying blame on the US, Muhandis said Wednesday: “We announce that the first and last entity responsible for what happened are American forces, and we will hold them responsible for whatever happens from today onwards.”
