Iraqi security sources in Baghdad told CNN that they are investigating the militia’s claim. Iran has denied involvement.
“As always, the President of the United States and the government reserve the right to respond in time and in the manner of our choice, but we will wait for the assignment to be completed before we take any further action,” Psaki told reporters Tuesday at White House.
A civilian contractor died and a United States military and several American contractors were injured when the rocket hit coalition forces. The attack could complicate the Biden government’s declared plans to return to the nuclear deal with Iran, as long as Tehran resumes compliance with the pact.
‘Blood Brigade’
An Iran-backed Shi’ite militant group called “The Guardians of the Blood Brigade” claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, but did not provide evidence of their role in the incident.
“The American occupation will not be safe from our attacks on any inch of the country, and even in Kurdistan, where we promise to carry out other qualitative operations,” said the group’s statement. The group took responsibility for other small attacks aimed at American troops in areas near Baghdad and northern Iraq in August.
Asked about possible Iranian responsibility, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States “will not proceed with the investigation, which is ongoing. We take this incredibly seriously. We are supporting our Iraqi partners in their efforts. to investigate these attacks, whether they were conducted by Iran or “Iran-supported forces.
On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh denied any connection to Monday’s attacks in Erbil. “Although these rumors are strongly rejected, the dubious attempt to attribute them to Iran is also strongly condemned,” said Khatibzadeh, according to the official Iranian news agency, Mehr.
Researchers
US and Iraqi personnel have already been at the launch site for the rocket attack, a US official said. The troops found a mobile launcher consisting of a multiple rocket launcher at the rear of the truck, as well as a fixed launcher. They also found six rockets not launched, the official said.
By calculating the trajectory of the approaching rockets, the US was able to locate the launch site and place the aircraft overhead “very quickly,” said the official. The United States immediately aimed Iraqi forces at the scene and then sent its own troops.
The US military is analyzing launchers and rockets to see what they can know about the group behind the attack, said the official, who added that the US will follow the standard evidence assessment process and then decide how to proceed.
Psaki offered condolences for the murdered contractor and noted links between the US secretaries of state and defense and Iraqi and Kurdish officials. She said the government would make diplomacy a “priority” when formulating a response.
Tuesday’s expressions of outrage echoed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement about the attack on Monday night. Blinken used the statement to extend condolences to the “innocent Iraqi people and their families who are suffering from these relentless acts of violence.”
He spoke on Monday with Iraqi Kurdistan region prime minister Masrour Barzani and Tuesday morning with Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Kadhimi, according to the State Department.
In a reading of Blinken’s connection to Kadhimi, the State Department said: “The secretary discussed his connection with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan regional government and encouraged Prime Minister Kadhimi to continue to work closely with the regional government to deal with violent extremists, they discussed ongoing efforts to identify and hold accountable the groups responsible for yesterday’s attacks, as well as the Iraqi government’s responsibility and commitment to protect US and Coalition personnel in Iraq from government invitation to fight ISIS. “
CNN’s Michael Conte, Nicholas Neville, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Muwafaq Mohammed contributed to this report.