Rocket attack on a US base in Iraq

1 Syria

During an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly on the human rights situation in Syria, the Russian representative, Stepan Kuzmenkov, called on the international community to pay close attention to the human rights situation in the Syrian refugee camps, in the US-controlled areas. He underlined that the USA «bear the full responsibility for what is happening there, as the occupying forces». He added that during the meeting, no-one spoke about the real problems of Syria. He explained that Syria has been fighting the externally funded terrorist groups for many years by now. Stepan Kuzmenkov pointed out the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and the effect of the sanctions. «The politicized discussion of today has nothing to do with the international cooperation, aimed to protect the human rights. Thus, the discussion imposed on us can’t help to stabilize the situation in Syria, or the international efforts for an inter-Syrian settlement» — Stepan Kuzmenkov concluded.

2 Syria

The Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated during a briefing that it’s too early to speak about any visible results of the airstrikes in Syria. He added that the USA expect that their goals have been achieved. John Kirby explained that one of the US intentions to achieve with the air-strikes was to prevent the future attacks by the hostile armed groups on the US troops, the US facilities, and on the Iraqi partners. On the night of 26th of February, the USA carried out air-strikes on ground targets of the pro-Iranian Shiia groups in the Syrian-Iraqi border.

3 Iraq

The ’’Sky News Arabia’’ reported while citing the Iraqi security forces that the Iraqi military base ’Ain al-Assad’ came under a rocket fire. 10 rockets fell near the base of the international coalition forces. Nobody was hurt as a result of the attack. The attack was carried out from a settlement between the cities of Hit and Al-Baghdadiyah. The Iraqi military found a rocket launcher, used for the attack. The attacked base is located in the Anbar province, 110 km west of Baghdad. It is one of the largest military bases that hosts the US troops in Iraq.

4 The USA — Iran

The US State Department spokesman, Ned Price, stated that the US administration is calling on Iran to engage in constructive and diplomatic negotiations, in order to «facilitate a mutual return to the compliance with the JCPOA». Ned Price noted that Washington plans to be ’’in a close contact with partners of the 5+1 group». The USA will coordinate with their European allies and partners. Ned Price added that «The USA made plans on two levels: strategic and tactical». According to him, the strategic level is “compliance for compliance”. If Iran returns to the full compliance with the treaty — the USA will do the same. He added that the tactical option is the following: the USA are ready to take part in a meeting with Iran, if the EU organizes the meeting.

5 Armenia

The press service of the Armenian president reported that the president Armen Sarkissian discussed the internal political situation with the Chief of the General Staff, Onik Gasparyan. «Sargsyan and Gasparyan have discussed the situation in the country due to the recent events. The paramount importance of the security and stability of Armenia was underlined, regardless of the taken decisions» — the message stated. The Armenian president noted that the army needs a care, and he will continue to keep the army problems in the center of his attention. Meanwhile the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has twice sent a proposal to dismiss the Chief of the General Staff to the Armenian president.

6 The USA — Russia

The US State Department reported that the USA are introducing a number of restrictions against Russia under the American law from 1991 «on the control over the chemical and biological weapons, and the ban of their use» due to the situation with Alexei Navalny. The USA won’t provide an aid to Russia in accordance with the ’’Foreign Aid Act’’ from 1961, with the exception of urgent humanitarian aid. The USA stop the sale of any kind of defense products to Russia, the granting of licenses and permits for the export of arms, and the USA stop any US foreign military funding programs that involves Russia. On Tuesday, the US Treasury Department reported that it had sanctioned 7 Russian officials. The US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that the USA are joining the EU in the denouncing of the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and his arrest and detention by the Russian authorities. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow will respond to the new anti-Russian sanctions on the mutual principle, but not necessarily in a symmetric way. Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ANNA NEWS.