{"id":52500,"date":"2022-03-13T13:48:35","date_gmt":"2022-03-13T13:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/03\/13\/iran-claims-missile-barrage-near-us-consulate-in-iraq\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:02:16","slug":"iran-claims-missile-barrage-near-us-consulate-in-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2022\/03\/13\/iran-claims-missile-barrage-near-us-consulate-in-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran claims missile barrage near US consulate in Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: This story has been updated with a response from State Department spokesman Ned Price.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BAGHDAD \u2014 Iran claimed responsibility Sunday for a missile barrage that struck near a sprawling U.S. consulate complex in northern Iraq<\/a>, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard earlier this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iraq\u2019s Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned Iran\u2019s ambassador to protest the attack, calling it a flagrant violation of the country\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No injuries were reported in Sunday\u2019s attack on the city of Irbil, which marked a significant escalation between the U.S. and Iran. Hostility between the longtime foes has often played out in Iraq, whose government is allied with both countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attack drew harsh condemnation from the Iraqi government, which called it a \u201cviolation of international law and norms\u201d and demanded an explanation from the Iranian leadership. Iraq\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad al-Sahhaf told The Associated Press that the ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador, Iraj Masjedi, to deliver the diplomatic protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iran has claimed responsibility for a missile barrage that struck near a sprawling U.S. consulate complex in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard. (AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The United States said the missile strike emanated from Iran and strongly condemned it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe strikes were an outrageous violation of Iraq\u2019s sovereignty. No U.S. facilities were damaged or personnel injured, and we have no indications the attack was directed at the United States,\u201d State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s powerful Revolutionary Guard said on its website that it attacked what it described as an Israeli spy center in Irbil. It did not elaborate, but in a statement said Israel had been on the offensive, citing the recent strike that killed two members of the Revolutionary Guard. The semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying Iran fired 10 Fateh missiles, including several Fateh-110 missiles, which have a range of about 300 kilometers (186 miles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The source claimed the attack resulted in multiple casualties. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the allegations or the Iranian missile barrage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Iraqi official in Baghdad initially said several missiles had hit the U.S. consulate in Irbil, which is new and unoccupied, adding that it had been the intended target of the attack. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the head of Kurdistan\u2019s foreign media office, said none of the missiles had struck the U.S. facility but that residential areas around the compound had been hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a Cabinet meeting, the Iraqi government in Baghdad reiterated its refusal to allow Iraq to be used to settle scores between other countries and said it has requested an explanation from the Iranian leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\t