Pompeo told Iraqi PM Adil Abd al-Mahdi that Baghdad “must defend Coalition personnel supporting the Iraqi government’s efforts to defeat ISIS,” the US Department of State said in a statement on Monday.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (@SecPompeo) tells Iraq's prime minister the US will take measures in self-defense if attacked, after a second rocket attack on an Iraqi base that houses US troops.https://t.co/PjfzGdF7uR
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 16, 2020
Those “responsible for the attacks must be held accountable,” the official warned, adding that Washington “will not tolerate attacks and threats to American lives” and will take “action as necessary in self-defense.”
Back in January, the Iraqi parliament passed a non-binding resolution, urging all foreign militaries, including the US to withdraw from the country.
Read more: Deadliest attack on US, UK army in Iraq: many causalities
The landmark decision came after the US assassinated Iranian top general Qassem Soleimani and deputy chief of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a drone strike outside Baghdad.
The US was quick to refuse withdrawal, yet its forces have been repeatedly attacked throughout the country since then.
The response from Mike Pompeo came at a time when Iraq was bombed a couple of days ago.
The US retaliated and in a tweet, Mike Pompeo warned the Iraqi Govt that if attacked, the US will spare no moment to take action in self-defense.
Iraq was attacked in the past when the country was accused of possessing weapons of mass destruction.
At that time US President George W Bush accused Saddam Hussain of making the nuclear weapon.
However, after the attack the US took back its accusation and declared Iraq a nuclear free state.