A report reveals that US forces in Iraq and Syria were targeted in four separate attacks involving rockets and armed drones. Fortunately, there were no casualties or damage to infrastructure reported.
According to a US military official who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, the attacks occurred at two sites in northeastern Syria, where multiple rockets and a one-way attack drone were used. The Ain Al-Asad airbase west of Baghdad also experienced multiple one-way drone attacks, while the Erbil airport base near Erbil airport in northern Iraq was targeted with a drone.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, suspected to be an umbrella group for various Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups, claimed responsibility for the attacks. This came after US forces struck the Iran-aligned Kataeb Hezbollah armed group south of Baghdad, resulting in the death of eight members. The Iraqi government condemned the attack as an escalation and violation of sovereignty.
US officials have retaliated against the Iran-aligned groups after an increase in their attacks, which have targeted US and international forces since mid-October. As of Thursday, there have been 36 attacks in Iraq and 37 in Syria. The Pentagon reported that 56 US service members were wounded but have since returned to duty. Iran has denied backing the armed groups and insists that they are acting independently. The US has deployed 900 troops in Syria and an additional 2,500 in neighboring Iraq to assist local forces in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State.
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