Iraq
In the most large-scale attacks in a single day, armed drones attack two air bases and patrol with explosive devices
Portal in Mosul
U.S. forces were targeted in three strikes in Iraq on Thursday but suffered no casualties, according to security sources. This is the most geographically widespread series of attacks on US assets in a single day since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Spokespeople for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S.-led international forces stationed in Iraq did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A joint patrol of U.S. forces and Iraq’s counterterrorism service was attacked by an explosive device near the northern city of Mosul, damaging a vehicle but causing no injuries, two security sources said.
Armed drones also targeted al-Harir air base in Erbil and Ain al-Asad air base west of Baghdad, both of which host U.S. and international forces. The drones were shot down by air defenses and caused no casualties, security sources said.
A statement from Iraqi Kurdistan’s Counterterrorism Service, which is distinct from the federal Iraqi service, said drone strikes on al-Harir air base caused a fire at one of its fuel depots. It said the base was evacuated by US-led forces on October 20.
Attacks by Islamists on US bases in Syria and Iraq are fueling fears of an escalation
Since early October, U.S.-led forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 40 times as Israel launched a devastating attack on Gaza in retaliation for Hamas militants’ attack on Israel on October 7.
Forty-five U.S. soldiers were injured, U.S. officials say.
Washington blames the attacks on groups backed by Iran and says Tehran is ultimately responsible. Tehran disputes this claim, saying that the groups involved in the attacks did so on their own initiative.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have publicly stated that US assets will continue to be attacked as long as the US supports Israel in its war on Gaza.
The latest attacks came after the White House said Thursday that the U.S. military had struck targets in Syria to destroy weapons and deter Iranian-backed separatist groups from attacking American personnel in the region.
The U.S. has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attacked American forces, including an attack on Oct. 26.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that Wednesday’s strikes were carried out by two F-15 fighter jets and were in response to recent attacks against U.S. forces.
Austin said the attacks must stop. “If attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary actions to protect our people,” he said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday’s attack killed nine people linked to Iran-backed groups in Syria, a figure that could not be independently confirmed.
Portal has reported that the US military is taking new measures to protect its forces in the Middle East as attacks by suspected Iranian-backed groups increase, leaving open the possibility of evacuating military families if necessary.
The measures include expanding patrols, restricting access to base facilities and increasing intelligence gathering, including through drones and other surveillance operations, officials said.
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