The United States military successfully prevented an attack on its soldiers in Iraq early on Wednesday morning, October 18, according to two US officials. This was the first such attempt against US forces in Iraq in more than a year.
The US has 2,500 soldiers stationed in Iraq and another 900 in neighboring Syria. Their job is to advise and aid local forces in their fight against Islamic State, which has held vast portions of both countries since 2014.
The US Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
Officials speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity refused to identify those suspected of carrying out the assault. Still, they said that Washington is on high alert for activities by organizations with ties to Iran due to the rising tension in the area caused by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
If the US steps in to help Israel fight Hamas in Gaza, Iranian-aligned armed organizations in Iraq have vowed to launch missile and drone strikes against American targets. This warning was made last week.
The US has not sent troops to join the combat in the Middle East, but it has sent warships and aircraft to Israel, its closest ally.
Violence Against American Troops in Iraq
US authorities claim they foiled an assault by one-way attack drones on the al Asad air base in Iraq, where American forces are stationed.
As US President Joe Biden prepares to go to Israel on Wednesday to show support for its fight against Hamas, this strike raises the stakes.
This happened just hours after an explosion at a Gaza hospital killed hundreds of Palestinians. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the organization Israel accuses of being responsible for the explosion at Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital, has denied any involvement.
The Palestinian Authority's health minister blamed Israel for the "massacre" after claiming the hospital was targeted by an Israeli air strike.
The conflict in Gaza heightened already tense relations between Iraq and Israel. Iraqi military leaders have publicly accused Israel of carrying out the strike on the hospital. Certain participants criticized the US for standing for Israel.
The solid military group Kataib Hezbollah, with connections to Iran, has accused the US of helping Israel in the "killing of innocent people" and demanded that it withdraw from Iraq. In a report by Reuters, the organization issued a statement late Tuesday, October 17, saying, "These evil people must leave the country, otherwise they will taste the fire of hell in this world before the afterlife."
The US government has repeatedly accused Kataib Hezbollah of attacking American targets. The organization has dismissed the accusations.
Previous years saw frequent rocket strikes from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq against US personnel in Iraq and the US embassy in Baghdad, but, since last year, a ceasefire has been in place and things have quieted down in Iraq.
