- The first attack early on Wednesday involved two one-way drones that targeted al-Asad base, two U.S. officials said.
- One of the drones was intercepted but still managed to explode, causing the minor injuries and damaging some equipment.
- Some U.S. troops were being evaluated for possible traumatic brain injury, one of the officials said.
- The second drone attack targeted the al-Harir air base, which houses U.S. forces in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, according to the U.S. officials, an Iraqi security official and a Western diplomat.
- There are around 2,500 American soldiers and a thousand troops from other members of the anti-IS coalition in Iraq in a training and advisory role, after the official end of their combat mission in December 2021.
- Two were in the west, threatening troops at Al Asad air base, and one was in the north of the country, said a U.S. official, who was granted anonymity to discuss information beyond the official statement.
It did not say who launched the drones, but pro-Iranian forces have threatened to attack American troops in Iraq because of Washington’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas.
“In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. US forces will defend US and coalition forces against any threat,” it added.
A US defense official said earlier on Wednesday that two “one-way drones” had been downed when they attempted to attack American and coalition forces in Iraq, while Kurdish counter-terrorism forces said in a statement that an explosives-laden drone had crashed Wednesday in the Arbil governorate in the country’s north.
Hamas launched a surprise assault inside Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and taking hostages back into Gaza.
After Israel declared war and began retaliatory strikes, nearly 3,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians as well, according to Hamas health authorities.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Reuters first reported the news of the drone attack.
U.S. military shoots down drones headed toward troops in Iraq
Attack comes as U.S. officials are on heightened alert for potential attacks on forces in Middle East.
In western Iraq, the American military engaged two drones, destroying one and damaging the second, resulting in “minor injuries” to forces in the coalition to defeat the Islamic State, which includes both U.S. and partner troops, according to the statement. In northern Iraq, U.S. forces “engaged and destroyed” a third drone, resulting in no injuries or damage.
The Wednesday incidents marked the first such attack on U.S. positions in Iraq in least nine months. The official declined to say who was responsible for the attack.
The failed attack comes as Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday to show support after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on the country this month, a conflict that has escalated into an all-out war.
“In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region,” according to the statement. “U.S. forces will defend U.S. and Coalition forces against any threat.”
On Tuesday, a strike on a Gaza hospital killed more than 500 people. Both sides quickly traded blame for the attack, with Israeli officials saying the Islamic Jihad group was responsible.
Biden waded into the fray on Wednesday in Tel Aviv. He said the attack appeared to have been caused not by Israel but by “the other team,” citing information from his Defense Department.
As the conflict escalates, U.S. officials have been on heightened alert for potential attacks on American and partner forces in the Middle East. Over the years, various Iranian proxies have periodically attempted to strike U.S. positions in Iraq and Syria, and U.S. officials are concerned the groups could seize on the instability in the region to launch new attacks.
Reuters first reported the news of the drone attack.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment