US forces storm Iranian consulate in northern Iraq and seize six on staff

[BurtWorm]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6251167.stm

US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized six members of staff.

The troops raided the building at about 0300 (0001GMT), taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials.

The US military would only confirm the detention of six people around Irbil.

The raid comes amid high Iran-US tension. The US accuses Iran of helping to fuel violence in Iraq and seeking nuclear arms. Iran denies both charges.

Tehran counters that US military involvement in the Middle East endangers the whole region.

A local TV station said Kurdish security forces had taken over the building after the Americans had left.

...

[dogday]

1. But we are not attacking Iran right?

If we invade their Consulate, it is like invading their country...

[MzNov]

3. gee, right, we are only crying wolf....

not being alert and paying attention.

:sarcasm:

[Larkspur]

2. What's Mailiki's response?

Iraq has treaties with Iran, thanks to the Iraqi Shiite led government.

[ruiner4u]

10. Maliki isn't happy...

I dont remember what the ticker on cspan said, but my impression is that he is not happy.

[JNelson6563]

4. I know, let's provoke Iran!

It's not like we've got anything goin' these days or anything...let's kick this hornets' nest and see if we can't drum up some excitement.

*sigh*

[BurtWorm]

5. Brilliant. Can't see any unforeseeable glitches developing with this line of attack.

:eyes:

[JNelson6563]

6. Exactly! What's the worst that could happen?

:sarcasm:

[BurtWorm]

7. This way, we won't have to make another front to fight on,

we'll just broaden the front so it goes straight across to Afghanistan. War consolidation, you know.

:eyes:

[BurtWorm]

8. So far only the BBC is reporting this?

Has anyone heard this from any other source?

[BurtWorm]

9. Iran summons Swiss, Iraqi diplomats after US raid

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2007/January/middleeast_January99.xml§ion=middleeast
(AP)

11 January 2007


TEHERAN, Iran - Iran’s foreign ministry on Thursday summoned the Iraqi and Swiss envoys to Teheran over the detention of five Iranian staffers at a diplomatic mission in northern Iraq, state-run television reported.

The broadcast said the ministry had summoned the ambassadors and “demanded an explanation” about the incident. Switzerland represents American interests in Iran, where there is no US embassy.

The summons followed an early morning raid in Iraq, where multinational forces stormed the building of an Iranian consulate the Kurdish-controlled northern city of Irbil, 350 kilometers (220 miles) from Baghdad.

The troops detained the five staffers and confiscated computers and documents, according to local Kurdish officials in Irbil.

The US military issued a statement saying it had taken six people into custody in the region but did not mention a raid on the Iranian consulate. It declined further comment on the raid.

[BurtWorm]

11. Toronto DN: Raid on Iranian Consulate - U.S. New Way Forward in Iraq?

http://www.torontodailynews.com/index.php/WorldNews/2007011104iran-consulate

Iranian consulate in Iraq was raided by U.S. Army hours after President Bush blaming Iran for providing material support for attacks on American troops.

Shortly after U.S. President Bush addressed the nation on the increase in military presence in Iraq, U.S. troops raided an Iranian consulate in northern Iraq and detained several people.

Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency reported today that U.S. military entered the Iranian consulate in Irbil and seized computers, documents and other items. The report said six staff members remain in custody.

U.S. officials have not confirmed the consulate raid, but did say that they had taken six people into custody in Irbil during the course of "routine security operations."

The Iranian foreign ministry appealed to the Iraqi government to obtain the release of its personnel.

...

[JNelson6563]

12. Hoo-boy. Bet they're busy at that embassy!

The Swiss embassy in Iran has got to be a real hive of activity today, huh? Man this is such serious shit!

Little Boots and his gang are out of control.

Julie