Two rocket attacks targeted American troops stationed at two bases in Iraq without causing injuries, security sources learned Friday, amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas.
These attacks come at a time when Iraqi armed groups close to Iran are threatening to attack American interests in Iraq as Washington supports Israel, which was the target of a deadly attack of unprecedented magnitude by the Islamist movement Hamas on October 7 .
On the night of Thursday to Friday, a “missile attack” occurred near the camp of the forces of the international anti-jihadist coalition, which includes American soldiers, near Baghdad’s international airport, a US official told reporters AFP said Defense Ministry.
“Two rockets were fired. One was intercepted by a missile defense system and the other hit an empty storage hangar, this source said on condition of anonymity. Nobody was hurt.”
Earlier, an Iraqi security official mentioned that “three Katyusha rockets were fired near” the camp without causing any injuries.
This attack was not immediately claimed.
“No damage” was found, she assured. That attack was claimed on Telegram channels by a group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is affiliated with Shiite factions loyal to Iran, a neighboring country of Iraq where it wields predominant influence.
On Wednesday, two drone strikes against American forces and the international coalition in Iraq were “foiled” and the planes were shot down, causing minor injuries.
Around 2,500 American soldiers and a thousand soldiers from other coalition member countries are now stationed at three bases held by Iraqi forces.
In recent days, factions loyal to Iran, which supports Hamas and does not recognize the State of Israel, have increased their threats against the United States. One of them, the Hezbollah Brigades, called on Americans to “leave Iraq” “or they will taste the fire of hell.”
According to Israeli authorities, more than 1,400 people have been killed on Israeli territory by Hamas militants since October 7. Most civilians were mowed down by bullets, burned alive or died of mutilations on the first day of the attack launched from Gaza.
According to local authorities, more than 3,780 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including more than 1,500 children, have been killed in incessant bombings by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.