Iraq: Rockets, Drones Target Bases Housing US Forces

Facts

• Two military bases hosting US troops in western Iraq were reportedly attacked with drones and missiles Thursday, days after Iraqi militias allegedly warned Washington against intervening in the Israel-Hamas conflict.¹
• Several blasts were allegedly heard at Ain Al-Asad air base, though it's unclear whether the attack caused casualties or damage. The Iraqi military said it had blocked off the area around the base and launched an investigation.²
• Meanwhile, rockets reportedly struck a military base near Baghdad's international airport. The same day, the US Navy said it had intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen 'potentially' targeting Israel.³
• The attacks come a day after US forces stationed at the Al-Tanf base near Syria's border with Iraq and Jordan were targeted in two separate drone attacks, according to anonymous US officials. The US maintains 2.5K troops in Iraq and another 900 in neighboring Syria.⁴
• On Wednesday, the US Central Command said that US forces shot down two drones and damaged a third in Iraq over the past 24 hours, with coalition forces suffering 'minor injuries' in one incident. The latest attacks are the first on US forces in Iraq in over a year.⁵
• The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack on the Ain Al-Asad base as well as Wednesday's attack on the Al-Tanf base, while the Pentagon has warned the US will take all necessary measures to defend US troops in Iraq and Syria.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²The National, ³The Guardian, ⁴Iran International, ⁵Air & Space Forces Magazine and ⁶Rudaw.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Arab Center Washington DC. Despite the tragic casualties on both sides of the conflict, the US — looking to shore up its political standing with Tel Aviv — has unequivocally supported Israel while largely ignoring the horrors experienced by the Palestinians. This is a dangerous maneuver that has abandoned Washington's national interests in the rest of the region, leaving room for other actors to intervene.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Firstpost. While there's no clear evidence that Tehran was involved in Hamas' savage assault on Israel, recent attacks by Iranian-backed militias on US bases show that the Iranian regime is playing with fire. Meanwhile, other Iranian proxies like Hezbollah threaten to open a second front against Israel. Israel has no choice but to defend itself, and Washington is right to have its back.

Predictions