ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Despite the shift in the US diplomatic mission to Iraq from combat to advisory, American troops remain in a "dangerous" environment surrounded by uncertainties regarding their safety and self-defense, the Pentagon said in a statement late Tuesday following recent attacks on bases housing coalition forces.
The US-led coalition on Tuesday foiled a rocket attack targeting the Green Village base in Deir ez-Zor province in northeast Syria (Rojava), hours after the forces shot down two explosive-laden drones in Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, according to AFP.
"They clearly are at a risk in the region. I mean, one of the reasons why these sites were hit was [that] we had reason to believe that they were going to be used as launch sites for attacks on Green Village. So clearly, our men and women remain in harm's way ... we always have the right of self-defense," said Pentagon spokesperson John F. Kirby.
"We continue to see threats against our forces in Iraq and Syria by militia groups that are backed by Iran. But again, I don't have specific attribution on who was responsible for these specific sites," Kirby added, unwilling to mention the operators of the missile-launching sites.
A rocket attack targeted Victory base near Baghdad airport, the Iraqi Security Media Cell said on Wednesday. The forces also found a rocket launcher and another unlaunched missile. The base houses American troops.
Attacks on US bases in Iraq, widely blamed on Iran-backed militias, have seen an increase especially following the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani two years ago. Soleimani’s killing allowed Iran to up its influence in Iraq, greatly concerning US officials about their forces safety in the country.
"This is not a new concern, and I think we've seen in just the last few days, that there have been acts perpetrated by some of the groups that validate the consistent concern that we've had over the safety and security of our people," said Kirby, addressing the threat of Iran in the region.
The American troops shot down two explosive-laden drones targeting a compound at Baghdad airport housing its military troops on Soleimani’s death anniversary on Monday.
Photos of the shot-down drones were shared on Telegram channels affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) with the phrase "Soleimani's revenge" written on them.
The Iranian general and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020. The attack was ordered by former US President Donald Trump who called Soleimani “the number one terrorist anywhere in the world” and claimed he was planning attacks on US forces. Tehran has threatened to revenge for the general’s death.
Last year, at least 30 rocket and drone attacks were reported on bases and facilities housing US forces and personnel in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, according to data compiled by Rudaw English.
By Julian Bechocha
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