On March 13, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shared new information on the recent strikes on Iraq.
During a press briefing, Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie said the “defensive strikes,” which took place in the early morning, targeted five “advanced conventional weapons storage sights” of Iranian-affiliated Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH).
“Up front, we have information that confirms KH conducted the rocket attacks on Camp Taji on March 11th that killed three coalition members and injured fourteen others. We assess that KH has launched 12 rocket attacks against coalition forces in the last six months,” the general said.
KH released a statement a day earlier praising the attack on Camp Taji without claiming responsibility for it. The group called on the perpetrators to reveal themselves, promising to support and protect them.
Gen. McKenzie also shared photos of the five targeted positions, claiming that they contained “Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons” that could enable lethal operations against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. A video showing one of the strikes was also released.
We assess that each location stored weapons that could enable lethal operations against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. We also assess that the destruction of these sights will degrade KH’s ability to conduct future attacks. pic.twitter.com/wRH6u9xLbH
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2020
We have effectively destroyed these facilities and expect that they no longer contain the type of advanced Iranian-supplied weapons that were used in the KH attacks.
– Gen Frank McKenzie, CDR CENTCOM pic.twitter.com/ag27fZnCoO— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2020
These defensive strikes were designed to destroy Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons, and that the U.S. acted in self-defense in response to a direct and deliberate attack on an Iraqi base that hosts coalition service members. – Gen Frank McKenzie, CDR CENTCOM pic.twitter.com/dBbe3Fx6Os
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2020
These claims were refuted by the Iraqi military, which revealed earlier that the strikes were not limited to KH positions. A base of the military’s 19th Commandos Division and Babylon’s Police Regiments were among the targets. Five soldiers and policemen were killed.
Furthermore, one of the strikes targeted a civilian airport under construction near the holy Shiite city of Karbala, killing a civilian worker. The CENCTOM described the airport as a “advanced conventional weapons storage facility.”
We are in Iraq to support the people of Iraq in their fight against ISIS, however, we reserve the right to defend our forces whenever they are attacked or threatened.
– Gen Frank McKenzie, CDR CENTCOM pic.twitter.com/Ri3UQKSMdl— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2020
The CENCTOM’s claims appear to be false and misleading. The strikes have clearly targeted positions of the Iraqi government forces, which formally are allies of the U.S.-led coalition.
The U.S. strikes were condemned by most parties in Iraq. The attack will likely renew Shiite-led efforts to expel U.S. troops from the country.
