Iraq PM: No Flights Without My Permission….DOD: Wrong On Accusation, Mr. PM
26 August
Department of Defense Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Jonathan R. Hoffman provided the following statement:
U.S. forces did not conduct the recent attack on a convoy or any recent attacks that resulted in the explosion of ammunition storage facilities in Iraq. Statements to the contrary are false, misleading, and inflammatory.
We support Iraqi sovereignty and have repeatedly spoken out against any potential actions by external actors inciting violence in Iraq. The government of Iraq has the right to control their own internal security and protect their democracy. They are conducting an investigation into the recent attacks accordingly.
As guests of Iraq, U.S. forces operate at the invitation of the Iraqi government and comply with all laws and directions. Furthermore, we are fully cooperating with the investigation.
18 August: DOD: Senior leaders from Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve met with Iraqi Ministry of Defence officials to discuss Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi’s recent guidance regarding airspace usage.
As guests within Iraq’s sovereign borders, CJTF-OIR complies with all Iraqi laws and direction from the Government of Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition immediately complied with all directions received from our Iraqi partners as they implemented the Prime Minister’s order.
CJTF-OIR forces operate within Iraq at the request, and under the protection, of the Government of Iraq and in partnership with Iraqi Security Forces. Since the campaign to defeat Daesh began on Oct. 17, 2014, CJTF-OIR assisted the Government of Iraq in the liberation of Iraqi territory. Support to the people of Iraq includes, but is not limited to, training over 220,000 Iraqi Security Force members, providing billions of dollars in equipment and supporting nearly 15,000 coordinated strikes with the Government of Iraq. We are committed to continuing our mission to support and enable our ISF partner forces in their mission of an enduring defeat of Daesh. End of DOD release.
The command from the Iraqi MOD followed the recent explosion at a Falcon Camp military base in Iraq which some Iraqi officials blamed on the U.S. and Israel, according to Newsweek
Asharq Al-Awsat reported Wednesday, again citing an unnamed security source, that Israel was behind the most recent strike. Former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Baha al-Araji also blamed Israel in a tweet Wednesday
Air defense will treat any breach as “hostile aviation” and respond to it, Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement on Thursday according to Arab News.
“All approvals to fly in Iraqi airspace for all Iraqi and none Iraqi parties are cancelled. No flights are allowed without the exclusive consent of the General Commander of the Iraqi Armed Forces or his authorized representative.
“All parties shall strictly abide by this directive and any traffic in contravention of it shall be deemed to be a hostile aviation handled immediately by our air defenses.”
The restriction includes armed and unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters, fighter jets and all types of drones that have been used by the US-led international military coalition, Iraqi security forces and Shiite paramilitary troops.