BAGHDAD, Jan. 11, 2007
Iranians Detained After U.S. Raid In Iraq
Iraqi Shiite Leader Calls On Government To Hit Lawbreakers With An "Iron Fist"
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An Iraqi army soldier mans a checkpoint in central Baghdad, January 11, 2006. Six Iraqis were shot dead, including five police officers, in Baghdad attacks today just hours after U.S. President George W. Bush declared he would send more than 20,000 new troops to Iraq. (Getty Images/Ali Al-Saadi)
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Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, right, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq party, leaves after meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday Jan. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)
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The forces stormed the building at about 3 a.m., detaining the five staffers and confiscating computers and documents, two senior local Kurdish officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information. Irbil is a city in the Kurdish-controlled north, 220 miles from Baghdad.
"There are reports that six people were detained but now we want clarification from the American side and from the Iranian side about these people and what they were doing there and whether they were employees," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said during a news conference. He added that the foreign ministry is contacting concerned sides "and then we can take an official stance on the matter."
In Tehran, Iran's foreign ministry summoned the Iraqi and Swiss ambassadors and "demanded an explanation" about the incident. Switzerland represents American interests in Iran, where there is no U.S. Embassy.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told state-run radio that the raid was "against a diplomatic mission" since the "presence of Iranian staffers in Irbil was legal." Hosseini claimed the action by the U.S.-led coalition reflected "continuation of pressure" on Iran, aiming to "create tension" between Iraq and its neighbors.
A resident living near the mission said the foreign force used stun bombs in the raid and brought down an Iranian flag that was on the roof of the two-story yellow house. As the operation went on, two helicopters flew overhead, said the resident on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution.
"They took five Iranians with them and at about 7 in the morning they handed over the house to Kurdish peshmergas [fighters]," he said.
In the early afternoon, a number of Kurdish guerrillas could be seen around the building preventing people from getting close to the house and not allowing cameramen and photographers to take pictures.
In Other Developments:
The U.S. military issued a statement on the raid in Irbil, saying it had taken six people into custody but made no mention of a raid on the Iranian consulate. It declined further comment on the raid.
The motive for the raid was not known, but it came as tensions are high between Iran and the United States. The Bush administration has accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons and of helping fuel violence in Iraq. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, meanwhile, is trying to expand Iran's role in Iraq as a counter to U.S. influence in the Gulf region.
The new strategy declared by U.S. President George. W. Bush in the past hours ignored key recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, which in December called for a new diplomatic offensive and an outreach to Syria and Iran. Instead, he accused both countries of aiding terrorists and insurgents in Iraq.
"We will disrupt the attacks on our forces," Mr. Bush said. "We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria."
Speaking on how bad relations between the United States, Iran and Syria affect Iraq, al-Dabbagh said "for sure any improvement (of relations) between the United States and these two countries will make us avoid many problems."
"Some times we pay the price for the tension in relations between Iran and the United States and Syria and the United States, therefore it is in our interest as Iraqis that these relations improve but not at the expense of Iraq," he said. "For that reason, we hope, encourage and are playing a role in getting the points of view closer between" them.
Late last month, U.S. troops elsewhere in Iraq detained at least two Iranians and released two others who had diplomatic immunity.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add a Comment See all 27 Comments
- Well, as usual Bluestardad, you are wrong. The President has the explicite authority as commander-in-chief to do exactly what he is doing, whether or not you agree.
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- This escalation of Iraq combat has not been approved by Congress and the President does not have the right to escalate the war. It is time the Iraqi people took responsibility for their own country. The President%u2019s stated reasons for war with Iraq in the original mandate from congress does not apply and has been proven false on every point, at the cost of 3 American lives a day and two billion tax dollars a week. Congress must act to stop all funds for this war now and bring our troops home. November 7, 2006 was a mandate to stop the war in Iraq and the Culture of Corruption in Washington. What great things could American domestic programs do with two billion dollars a week we are spending in Iraq?
Billions of Dollars in Job Creation funds have been spent in Iraq and are now requested for Iraq. What elected official either in the House of Representatives or the Senate could with good conscience vote to send Billions of American Tax Dollars to create Jobs and rebuild infrastructure in Iraq while in America coast to coast infrastructure needs repair and the Midwest Rust Belt States have lost millions of Manufacturing Jobs because of unfair trade practices and the political decisions to send jobs to foreign countries? When will our elected officials turn their priorities to support the will of their electorate? - Reply to this comment
- I guess you Bush-bashers don't understand how the government works. CONGRESS is responsible for funding the military. CONGRESS had a vote and approved the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. CONGRESS can end the war at any time by refusing to allow funding.
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- It is plain to see, that the Amero/Israeli extremists who have overtaken and so badly damaged our country, are hell bent on provoking a war with Iran.
Widening the conflict in search for an exit seems to be among their few remaining options. - Reply to this comment
- singinrick... HE, is THE REASON my monicker is WAYFEDUP... I AM FED UP WITH HIS LIES AND B.S.!!
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- singinrick... I didn't vote for him, because I ALREADY KNEW WHAT A D*UMBASS HE IS!
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- singinrick... Pray for the troops; OK.
Pray for the Country; OK. Pray for "YOUR" PRESIDENT? S C R E W HIM! - Reply to this comment
- lieberman18
Are U nut? this is not a question actually an affirmation, cause U're nut.
The proud coalition soldiers have gone into a diplomatic mission an internationally recognized safehaven. This is indactive of the savage/drunken-cowboy way of dealing with things...
Again I guess it was not precisely Amercian soldiers who were involved into this raid. Is it any Israeli coalition-desguised agents trying to provoke direct incidents between the Americans and Iran? No more surprise at this stage. A filthy history of such sh*t-stirring by Mossad. - Reply to this comment
- Hey Neo-Fascist cut and runners...
Can you read? Can you comprehendo ala Missy Pelosi?
Read who is behind the terrorists in Iraq. Iran and Al Qaeda hand-in-hand together.
Still wish to bs the rest of us? Better smear some more greasepaint on - you're all beginning to resemble the drunk intern killer from Massachusetts. - Reply to this comment
- Wake up CBS, I posted this three days ago !!!!
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- Hey singinrick, bush wants americans to "Sacrifice" their children for his failed vision of iraq. Maybe you should do a long hard study on religion and figure out what kind of "Gods" people like your hero VV really worship... It sure isn't Jesus Christ....
First of all they call him VV because it's the double V which in hebrew = 6 so VV = 66, it represents the number of the "great work." Hitler added the 3rd V above his VW Volkswagon logo to make it 666... It's the same secret mystery religion satanists like Aleister Crowley were into, that's what your VV is into...
Bindooreilly - First off, you have WAY too much time on your hands. Second, that whole cluster of nonsense fell about 50 yards from making any sense whatsoever. I think you need to drop the conspiracy theory mind-set before you end up in an insane asylum. - Reply to this comment
- I have a very real problem understanding something. The ones that have the most to lose are the troops. News reports show where the President was greeted by cheering soldiers who also aplauded.
I am a vet and very much believe that no matter what, if you are in the military, you respect the Office of The President of the USA.
But, the above behaviour of our troops at Fort Benning really puzzles me. What gives? - Reply to this comment
- Hey singinrick, bush wants americans to "Sacrifice" their children for his failed vision of iraq. Maybe you should do a long hard study on religion and figure out what kind of "Gods" people like your hero VV really worship... It sure isn't Jesus Christ....
First of all they call him VV because it's the double V which in hebrew = 6 so VV = 66, it represents the number of the "great work." Hitler added the 3rd V above his VW Volkswagon logo to make it 666... It's the same secret mystery religion satanists like Aleister Crowley were into, that's what your VV is into... - Reply to this comment
- jdweymouth says "George Bush is hated by the world. So is Jesus Christ. The Bible says, in essance, that if at times you're hated by the world, you're doing something right. "
So, let me get this straight. If you are hated by the world, then you must be doing something right. Are you sure you don't want to rethink this a little bit, maybe add a clarifier or two in there? - Reply to this comment
- ...after the Russian embassy in Baghdad was sprayed with gunfire. The Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi ambassador and a U.S. Embassy official in Moscow on Thursday to complain after the Wednesday evening shooting, which the ministry said damaged the embassy building.
This is getting nasty...
Hopefully this situation will not get out of hands with the uncomfort and pressure the Russians are running through. They are pushed slowly but surely out of Iraq, a traditional ally with previous dictator. Another major player is getting involved or has it already been? - Reply to this comment
- ObservantX: You're wrong. George Bush is hated by the world. So is Jesus Christ. The Bible says, in essance, that if at times you're hated by the world, you're doing something right. George Bush, I believe, is a christian. God loves his people.
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- singinrick: My point exacly!
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- "Senator Lieberman from Connecticut was even mentioned by President Bush. What an honor. Thank you Connecticut for putting someone like Joe Lieberman in Office."
I sent him some money so Your very welcome.
Their was a few hoots and hollars when Bush brought up Liberman.I took it as a thinnly veild threat. Lieberman has said if the Dems want to play games he will jump ship and since they tried to get rid of him I don't blame him. - Reply to this comment
- Singingrick:
I, too, wish God to bless our troops and the country. I am very reluctant to extend that wish to the president. The damage this man and his cohorts have done to our Constitution, our reputation, our security, and our armed forces, will echo down through the years.
As for the partisan bickering, who started it? Who had full control of the Congress for the past 6 years and used that power to slam the opposition into the dirt every single chance it got? And now we%u2019re all supposed to turn the other cheek. I%u2019m sorry, I ran out of cheeks a long time ago.
The %u201Cuniter%u201D clawed a huge chasm into the fabric of our nation, dividing us as no other person has ever done before. His brain, Rove, employed the politics of extremism and division to obtain and keep power for the neocon empire builders. Only until this president and his cutthroat handlers are gone and hopefully in prison, will this nation begin to heal and become united again.
I%u2019m not particularly religious, but I am fairly certain that Jesus , if alive today, would have driven this bunch out of the White House with a knotted rope, just as he drove the money changers from the Temple long ago. - Reply to this comment
- I agree with your statement bluestardad sent the politicians kids to Iraq and let them lead the attack. What a joke we have in Iraq the idiot in charge wants a way in to Iran now oh my god you think. After the Republicans destroy America they will need to make certain that the rest of the world has to suffer too. Well, after this next attempt fails then what?
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The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
