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Baghdad ‘astonished’ by report of Iran moving missiles to Iraq

Baghdad ‘astonished’ by report of Iran moving missiles to Iraq

Baghdad 'astonished' by report of Iran moving missiles to IraqBaghdad : Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has said it was “astonished” by a report that Iran had moved ballistic missiles to armed groups in Iraq.

The Ministry confirmed on Sunday that all Iraqi state institutions were committed to the Constitution that states that its territory should not be used as a base or passage for any operation targeting the security of any other state, Xinhua news agency reported.

The western media reported earlier that Iran had given ballistic missiles to allied Shiite militias in Iraq and was developing the capacity to build more there.

The Ministry’s statement came a day after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called up Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

According to a statement by Abadi’s office, Pompeo renewed his country’s support for a strong, stable and prosperous Iraq in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement which was signed (in 2008) by the two countries.

—IANS

Saudi Arabia warns Iran against supplying missiles to Houthis

Saudi Arabia warns Iran against supplying missiles to Houthis

missilesRiyadh : Saudi Arabia on Monday accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles to the Houthi rebels in Yemen and called it a blatant act of military aggression.

In a statement, the command of Saudi Arabia-led coalition forces in Yemen, said that an analysis of the remains of the missiles that were launched on Saturday against Riyadh confirmed they were made in Iran, reports Efe news.

“The coalition command considers this a blatant act of military aggression by the Iranian regime and could be considered an act of war against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

The spokesperson for the Arab coalition Turki Almalik, had claimed on Sunday that the ballistic missile attack against Riyadh was manufactured in Iran.

The statement stressed it is Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to defend its territory and people according to the UN charter and to respond to Iran at an appropriate time and manner.

Following the missile attack by the rebels, the coalition forces also decided to temporarily shut down all land, air and sea ports in Yemen.

On Saturday, the Houthi rebels had launched a ballistic missile against Riyadh that was intercepted near the Saudi capital by the armed forces.

The rebel-controlled Yemeni news agency SABA had said the missile was targeted at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The Shiia Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, frequently fire shells at the Saudi Arabian border near the frontier, and on several occasions, have launched ballistic missiles that fell close to Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia leads the coalition of Sunni Arab countries that have been intervening in the Yemen conflict since March 2015 in support of Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

—IANS