Iraq
An aerial view of Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq’s Anbar province on December 29, 2019. File photo: Nasser Nasser/AP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several rockets targeted a base housing United States troops in Iraq’s western Anbar province, according to reports, days after a high-level meeting between Iraqi and US defense officials in Washington.
“Four rockets fell in the vicinity” of Ain al-Asad base, an Iraqi security source told AFP. Another security official stated that the attack involved “a drone and three rockets.”
A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that projectiles landed outside the base without causing injuries or damage.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria were more frequent from October 2023 to February, following the start of the Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip against Palestinian Hamas, since then, they have largely stopped. The attacks were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Friday that several rockets were launched at the Conoco gas field in the Deir ez-Zor countryside in eastern Syria. The US responded by launching retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed militia group positions.
The attacks come days after a security meeting between US and Iraqi officials in Washington to discuss the future of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq.
“The delegations reached an understanding on the concept for a new phase of the bilateral security relationship, which includes cooperation through liaison officers, training, and traditional security cooperation programs,” read the joint statement from both delegations on Tuesday.
While Baghdad has maintained that the commission aims to conclude the presence of the coalition forces in the country, Washington has described the step only as a “transition” in the coalition’s role.
State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller told Rudaw's Diyar Kurda during a press briefing on Wednesday that "the question about the United States military presence in Iraq is something that we are discussing separately with them through the higher military commission that is an ongoing discussion with them."
In January, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani presided over the first meeting of the US-Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC) to discuss the future of the coalition’s mission in Iraq.
The US has around 2,500 soldiers in Iraq. Pro-Iran militia groups have repeatedly called for the withdrawal of the troops and carried out dozens of attacks on US forces based in Iraq and Syria. Washington has responded with airstrikes.
“Four rockets fell in the vicinity” of Ain al-Asad base, an Iraqi security source told AFP. Another security official stated that the attack involved “a drone and three rockets.”
A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that projectiles landed outside the base without causing injuries or damage.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria were more frequent from October 2023 to February, following the start of the Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip against Palestinian Hamas, since then, they have largely stopped. The attacks were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Friday that several rockets were launched at the Conoco gas field in the Deir ez-Zor countryside in eastern Syria. The US responded by launching retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed militia group positions.
The attacks come days after a security meeting between US and Iraqi officials in Washington to discuss the future of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq.
“The delegations reached an understanding on the concept for a new phase of the bilateral security relationship, which includes cooperation through liaison officers, training, and traditional security cooperation programs,” read the joint statement from both delegations on Tuesday.
While Baghdad has maintained that the commission aims to conclude the presence of the coalition forces in the country, Washington has described the step only as a “transition” in the coalition’s role.
State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller told Rudaw's Diyar Kurda during a press briefing on Wednesday that "the question about the United States military presence in Iraq is something that we are discussing separately with them through the higher military commission that is an ongoing discussion with them."
In January, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani presided over the first meeting of the US-Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC) to discuss the future of the coalition’s mission in Iraq.
The US has around 2,500 soldiers in Iraq. Pro-Iran militia groups have repeatedly called for the withdrawal of the troops and carried out dozens of attacks on US forces based in Iraq and Syria. Washington has responded with airstrikes.
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