BAGHDAD, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Presidency on Friday condemned overnight U.S. airstrikes on military bases housing paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.
In a statement, the Presidency said the U.S. airstrikes are a violation of Iraq's national sovereignty, and it reaffirmed that addressing the security issues in Iraq should be achieved by supporting the government of Iraq to implement its duties.
"The continuing violations, for the Iraqi government, are a systematic and grave weakening of its capabilities and prestige, which comes at the time that Iraq is facing grave and unprecedented challenges," the statement said.
The Presidency warned that "such challenges, if continued, will push Iraq into the status of non-state and chaos," according to the statement.
The Presidency also called on the international community to support Iraq and to respect its sovereignty, it added.
At least five security members and a civilian were killed in overnight U.S. airstrikes on military bases housing paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces south of Baghdad, the Iraqi military said earlier on Friday.
The airstrikes came after Wednesday's rocket attack on Camp Taji north of Baghdad that killed two U.S. soldiers and one British service member and wounded a dozen others.
The military bases housing U.S. troops across Iraq and the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad have been frequently targeted by insurgent mortar and rocket attacks.
Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support Iraqi forces in battles against the Islamic State, mainly for training and advisory purposes.
