Lagatar24 Desk
Baghdad, Iraq: Several rockets were fired on Thursday and Friday at bases housing US troops from the anti-jihadist coalition in Iraq and Syria, according to security officials and a war monitor. The recent attacks come after a period of relative calm following an earlier surge in such incidents during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In Iraq, four rockets landed near the Ain al-Assad base in Anbar province, an Iraqi security source reported. Additionally, another attack involved a drone and three rockets falling close to the base perimeter. A US official noted that initial reports indicated the projectiles landed outside the base, causing no injuries or damage.
In Syria, at least one rocket struck near the Conoco gas field base in Deir Ezzor province, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. While a blast was heard, there were no immediate reports of casualties. The Observatory suggested that the rocket was launched from areas controlled by pro-Iranian militia groups.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet. However, Iran-backed factions in Iraq had previously reduced their attacks on US forces in recent months. The escalation comes on the heels of a security meeting between Iraqi and US officials in Washington regarding the future of the international anti-jihadist coalition in Iraq. Iran-backed groups have called for the withdrawal of US troops.
The US Defense Department announced on Wednesday that the meeting led to an agreement on a new phase for the bilateral security relationship, including cooperation through liaison officers, training, and traditional security programs.
Earlier this month, on July 16, two drones targeted the Ain al-Assad base, with one detonating inside the base without causing injuries. A senior security official in Baghdad at the time suggested the attack was intended to “embarrass” the Iraqi government before the security talks.
Since regional tensions flared over the Israel-Hamas war, US troops in the Middle East have faced over 175 attacks, primarily in Iraq and Syria. The Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed groups, claimed responsibility for most of these attacks, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
In January, a drone strike attributed to these groups killed three US soldiers in Jordan, prompting extensive retaliatory strikes by US forces against Tehran-backed fighters. Since then, attacks on US troops have largely decreased.
Baghdad continues efforts to de-escalate tensions by negotiating with Washington regarding the future role of the US-led coalition in Iraq. The coalition, which was deployed at Iraq’s request in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group, still maintains around 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria. Despite the reduction in IS-controlled territory, remnants of the group continue to conduct attacks and ambushes.
