Several drones on Tuesday targeted an airbase in Iraq hosting US troops, causing injuries and damage, a US military official said.
Since the war between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October, there have been more than 140 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria deployed there to fight ISIL extremists. A US military official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject:
“Multiple attack drones were launched at the Ain al-Asad base in the western Anbar province. Latest reports include injuries and damage to infrastructure.”
White House deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer on Sunday called the attack “very serious,” saying it involved “ballistic missiles that pose a credible threat.”
A spokesman for Iraqi security forces said a drone was shot down in the attempted strike on the base.
In a statement, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-affiliated armed groups, claimed responsibility for two drone attacks on the base on Tuesday, saying they were acting in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which opposes US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict, has claimed responsibility for most of the recent attacks on US troops in Iraq. At least a dozen rockets were fired at the same base on Saturday. The US has already struck Iranian-backed groups several times in retaliation for the attacks.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is now calling for the international coalition to leave the country, saying that the deployment must end to ensure the country’s security.
