Baghdad protests Israeli strikes through its airspace, urges US action

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s government on Saturday condemned what it described as Israeli violations of its airspace, calling the incidents a breach of sovereignty and warning that it reserves the right to respond under international law and the United Nations Charter.

In a statement issued by Sabah Al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the government reaffirmed its “firm and unequivocal rejection of any violation of Iraqi airspace or its use in military attacks carried out by the Zionist entity against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any neighboring regional country.”

The statement added that Iraq is coordinating with international partners to address the breaches and urged the United States to uphold its obligations under bilateral agreements.

Full statement from Sabah Al-Numan:

The Iraqi government reiterates its firm and unequivocal rejection of any violation of Iraqi airspace or its use in military attacks carried out by the Zionist entity against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any neighboring regional country. Such actions directly contradict Iraq’s constitutional and fundamental commitment to a policy of good-neighborliness and its duty to prevent the use of its land, waters, or skies as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring states with whom Iraq maintains strong relations at all levels.

The Iraqi government is closely following, in coordination with relevant international parties, all such illegal acts, which represent a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and the principles of international law, and which have dangerous implications for peace and stability in the region.

The Iraqi government also calls on the United States of America to uphold its responsibilities under the bilateral agreements signed between the two countries, as well as in accordance with international conventions and norms, to prevent aircraft belonging to the Zionist entity from once again breaching Iraqi airspace to carry out such attacks.

Iraq has exercised the highest levels of restraint, in the hope of giving a chance for diplomatic and political solutions to defuse the crisis through peaceful means. Iraq has the right, under international law and the United Nations Charter, to use all available capabilities to act against any violation of its national sovereignty by any party.

Pursuant to the order of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Republic of Iraq has initiated formal measures, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Iraq’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, against the Zionist entity’s violation of Iraqi sovereignty through airspace breaches.