Iranian proxies attack U.S. base in Iraq: The first incident in months
In a significant development, an Iran-backed militant group launched an attack on a U.S. military base in Iraq for the first time in months, as confirmed by the Pentagon on Thursday. The incident occurred on Tuesday when two armed drones targeted the Al-Asad Airbase located in western Iraq. Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh provided details during a briefing, indicating that American forces managed to intercept and shoot down one of the drones, while the other drone hit the base causing minimal damage.
Singh did not specify which Iran-backed group was responsible for the attack. However, she mentioned that it was likely one of several groups supported by Iran that have previously targeted American forces since the last fall. The spokesperson also refrained from commenting on potential U.S. retaliation, other than noting that shooting down one of the drones constituted an immediate response to the aggression.
The timing of the attack is notable, as it marks the first such incident since at least February. This break in hostilities follows a series of aggressive actions against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed proxies. These attacks had escalated significantly after the war in Gaza intensified last year, following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. Between October and February, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, regularly launched drone attacks on U.S. bases in the region. The group claimed these attacks were in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel and aimed at pushing American forces out of Iraq.
The series of attacks halted abruptly after a severe incident in late January when three U.S. soldiers were killed in a strike on a base in Jordan, near the Syrian border. This event prompted U.S. retaliatory strikes, including a notable attack in central Baghdad that resulted in the death of a militia commander.
Despite the recent lull, U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria have faced over 100 attacks from Iranian-backed proxies since October. The maritime front has also seen significant activity, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launching near-daily missile and drone attacks on U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. U.S. forces have successfully intercepted many of these attacks and have conducted strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
The latest attack on the Al-Asad Airbase raises questions about the potential resurgence of hostilities and the future stability of U.S. forces in the region. Singh emphasized that it is not yet clear whether this incident signals the beginning of a new wave of attacks or if it was an isolated event. The Pentagon continues to monitor the situation closely, assessing the potential for further aggression from Iran-backed groups.
