ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The US was “very clear” that they would not attack Iraqi groups unless provoked, but some Iraqi groups have taken matter into their own hands, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in a televised interview on Saturday.

Hussein spoke to Dijlah TV in an hour long televised interview, during which he explained that constant attacks on Iraqi territory and diplomatic missions in the country has led many to question the government’s control over its territory.

“There were reactions to these attacks from inside, who is deciding on these attacks, why are these attacks happening from inside,” Hussein said, adding that it “gives the impression abroad that at the Iraqi government, we give statements and say we will protect the diplomatic missions, but there are attacks on the diplomatic missions.”

The Iraqi top diplomat attributed the attacks to certain armed groups not taking orders from anyone, despite an American guarantee that they will not conduct any unprovoked strikes.

“Some groups have taken matters into their own hands, they attacked, so that led to retaliatory strikes,” he said. “I do not know what the groups were thinking, but the Americans were speaking to me and saying if they do not attack us, we will not attack, the Americans were very clear about that, but then the oil companies in Kurdistan were attacked.”

“The attacks have led to an image that we are not in control,” Hussein added about the implications of the attacks.

Since the US-Israel war with Iran started in late February, Iraq has been the only country to be subjected to attacks from both sides of the war.

American-Israeli strikes have targeted Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) positions across the country since the start of conflict, killing over 80 PMF fighters and wounding hundreds others.

The strikes are in response to attacks by pro-Iran militia groups operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, targeting US interests in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Many of the factions operating within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have been officially incorporated into the Iraqi state security apparatus as part of the PMF, making the PMF a target for US-Israeli strikes. 

Iraq and the US on Friday announced the formation of a new joint committee aimed at increasing cooperation to prevent “terrorist attacks” and the use of Iraqi territory for “any aggression.”