Ammon News - The United States did not notify the Iraqi government in advance of recent strikes against pro-Iranian targets in the country, the State Department said Monday, clarifying White House statements suggesting otherwise.

"There was not a pre-notification, we informed the Iraqis immediately after the strikes occurred," State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

The United States carried out strikes in Syria and Iraq on Friday against targets of elite Iranian forces and pro-Iranian armed groups.

The strikes were in retaliation for an attack on January 28 that killed three American soldiers in US base. Washington has blamed the attack on forces aligned with Tehran.

"The Iraqi government, like every country in the region, understood that there would be a response after the deaths of our soldiers," Patel added.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had told reporters on Friday evening that Washington "did inform the Iraqi government prior to the strikes," angering Baghdad.

"I responded with information that I had been provided at the time," Kirby said on Monday.

"It was not as specific as it could have been, and I regret any confusion caused.

"That said, we had made no secret –- both to Iraqi officials and in public channels -– that we would respond to the attacks on our troops. And, we did, in fact, officially notify Iraq, as appropriate with standard procedure," he added.


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