SULAIMANI (ESTA) — U.S. and four European countries said on Friday that attacks on the United States and Coalitions troops would not be tolerated, in response to a recent drone attack on a base hosting U.S.-led Coalition forces in Erbil.
“We, the governments of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America condemn in the strongest terms the April 14 attacks in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region,” a joint statement by the four countries said.
They also expressed support for the Iraqi government’s investigation into the attacks to ensure that the perpetrators will be held accountable, according to the statement.
“We are united in our view that attacks on U.S. and Coalition personnel and facilities will not be tolerated and reiterate our steadfast commitment to the fight against ISIS,” they stated, using an acronym for Islamic State.
An explosives-laden drone targeted a base hosting U.S.-led Coalition troops at Erbil airport on Wednesday night, without causing casualties.
Coalition spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said the drone landed on a storage hanger at Erbil airport base and confirmed there were no injuries, according to AP.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the Iraqi and Kurdish ministries of interior said Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had ordered the formation of an investigative committee to find and detain perpetrators of the attack.
“The last night’s terrorist attacks carried out in Erbil and Mosul aimed to undermine Iraq’s security and sow discord,” the ministries said.
Shortly before the attack in Erbil, at least two rockets landed on and near a base to the west of the city that hosts Turkish forces. A Turkish soldier was killed and a woman was wounded in the attack.
“While we condemn these criminal acts, we confirm that these attacks come in a desperate attempt to strike the positive developments in the relationship between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government,” the ministry added, according to state news agency INA.
“Coordination and assistance between both sides will continue to ensure security and safety of citizens and to confront attempts to destabilize security,” they stated.
