ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Iraqi militia group on Friday claimed that it carried out a drone attack on United States troops in western Iraq, the latest in a string of assaults on US interests in Iraq and Syria because of Washington’s support for Israel. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said on its Telegram channel on Friday that it used a drone to attack US troops based at al-Asad air base in Anbar province. The same group on Thursday claimed responsibility for a drone attack against US troops based near Erbil International Airport. The Pentagon said the “unsuccessful” assault only caused material damage. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said during a press briefing late Thursday that US forces in Iraq and Syria had been attacked with suicide drones and rockets 16 times between October 17 and 26. “We know that these are Iranian-backed militia groups that are supported by Iran and of course we hold Iran responsible for these groups,” he said. Hours later, the US carried out airstrikes against pro-Iran militia groups in eastern Syria in “response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks” targeting American troops, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to pursue the groups carrying out the attacks. Sudani’s spokesperson Maj. Gen. Yehia Rasool on Monday said attacks on international partners in the country are “unacceptable” and the security of bases housing foreign troops is a “redline.”
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