Iraq condemns US airstrikes, says 16 people killed including civilians

Iraq's government said the U.S. retaliatory airstrikes on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated forces killed 16 people, including civilians. 

In a statement on Saturday, the Iraqi government condemned the strikes and accused the U.S. of falsely stating that they were coordinated with Iraqi authorities.

"The American side intentionally engaged in deception and distortion of facts, stating coordination with Iraqi authorities — an unfounded claim crafted to mislead international public opinion and evade legal responsibility for this condemned crime according to international law and principles," Iraqi government spokesman Basim Alawadi said.

"This aggressive airstrike will push the security situation in Iraq and the region to the brink of the abyss, jeopardizing the efforts of establishing stability,' Alawadi continued.

"We assert that the presence of the international coalition, which deviated from its assigned tasks and mandate, has become a reason for endangering security and stability in Iraq. It also serves as a justification for entangling Iraq in regional and international conflicts."