Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani, while condemning Israel’s strikes against Gaza, denounced the “attacks targeting the Iraqi bases, which include the headquarters of the international coalition advisors present in Iraq, at an official invitation from the government”. The same day, U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin spoke with al-Sudani and welcomed the statement, asserting: “U.S. and Coalition forces remain in Iraq in support of the Iraqi Security Forces to achieve the enduring defeat of ISIS. This mission is critical for regional stability and security”.