Spain “strongly” condemns Iranian attacks against French and Italian troops in Iraq

The Diplomat The Spanish government has “strongly” condemned the attacks carried out by Iran against French and Italian troops in Iraq, in which one French soldier was killed and several others were wounded. “The government expresses its deepest condolences to the French government and people at this difficult time and extends its best wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release on Friday, March 13. “This and other unjustifiable attacks against Iraq and other countries in the region constitute a flagrant violation of their sovereignty and independence, and threaten to further deteriorate the regional instability that began on February 28,” it warned. Therefore, the Spanish government “demands that Iran immediately cease these attacks, and that all parties respect international law and resume diplomatic negotiations as the only way to address the crisis, restore stability, and move toward peace in the region.” “The Government of Spain reiterates its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, and stability of Iraq and urges the protection and respect of the contingents deployed in the fight against terrorism and ISIS,” the statement concludes. “I condemn the attacks against European partners in Iraq,” wrote Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares on social media. “My condolences and solidarity to the family and to France for the death of a non-commissioned officer and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded,” he continued. “These unjustifiable attacks must stop. They are threats against the independence and sovereignty of Iraq and put the entire region at risk. Spain, together with its partners, remains firm in its commitment to the fight against ISIS and terrorism,” he concluded. A French soldier was killed and at least six others were wounded in an Iranian attack on the Erbil military base in Iraq, where French forces have been participating in the fight against terrorism since 2015. This is the first European casualty since the outbreak of the conflict instigated by Israel and the US against Tehran, in which more than 1,300 Iranians have already died. French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack “unacceptable.” “Their presence in Iraq is strictly within the framework of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran does not justify such attacks,” he wrote on social media. Kuwait and Hormuz On Friday, Albares spoke with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, "to convey my support in the face of the attacks his country is suffering, and my condolences for the victims," and to discuss "the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the consequences for oil exports." "I also thanked him for his help in evacuating the Spanish citizens," he posted on social media. "The war in the Middle East brings pain and affects the well-being of Spaniards and Europeans. We demand de-escalation and dialogue," he concluded. The Kuwaiti minister also wrote on social media that, during the phone call, he and Albares discussed "the growing military escalation in the region as a consequence of Iranian aggression against the countries of the region and the serious and worrying repercussions for security and stability at the regional and international levels." “I’m making another round of calls,” the minister told the EiTB program 'En Jake'. “Since yesterday, I’ve spoken with my counterparts in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon. This morning I spoke with my Kuwaiti colleague, and I’ll continue with my Turkish colleague,” he explained. “They all express the same concern: the Strait of Hormuz is currently impassable for ships, which is hindering the export of gas and oil, leading to price increases, and also impacting other products that are absolutely essential for the agri-food sector,” he continued. “They are receiving missiles and drones from Iran in a completely unjustified manner, which we condemn,” he stated. “It is impossible to know how long this conflict will last, but what we are certain of is that Spain and Europe must advocate for de-escalation and negotiation, because this war is not only contrary to international law, but also contrary to the economic interests of our families, our workers, and our businesses, both in Spain and in Europe,” he concluded. “I just spoke with my Turkish counterpart, my friend Hakan Fidan. We discussed the situation in the region and the security of NATO’s southern flank, and I conveyed Spain’s solidarity in the face of the missile launches against his country. We call for de-escalation and negotiations,” Albares later posted on social media. 8,000 evacuations Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already evacuated 8,000 Spaniards since the start of the conflict, and “all evacuation operations remain open except for that of Tehran, which was successfully completed with the evacuation of our embassy,” the minister declared this Friday. According to the department headed by Albares, “this is the largest evacuation operation in history carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” and will continue “until all Spaniards who wish to be evacuated have been evacuated.”

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