Iraq (Washington Insider Magazine)—Missiles were fired from northern Iraq late on Sunday at a military base in Syria hosting a US-led coalition, Iraqi security forces reported.
At least five missiles were fired from the Iraqi town of Zummar at a US military base in northeastern Syria, according to two Iraqi security sources and a US official quoted by Reuters. This is the first attack on US forces since early February, after attacks by Iran-backed groups in Iraq were halted.
The incident follows reports of intensified tensions in the region, including an alleged drone attack by Israel on Iran amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had recently traveled to the US, where he met with President Joe Biden before the attack occurred.
Factional declarations and US reaction
According to Scmp, Telegram groups affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah indicated a resumption of attacks by armed factions and expressed dissatisfaction with progress in talks to end the US-led coalition’s presence in Iraq. However, there was no official confirmation from the Iranian-backed group. A US official, speaking anonymously, described the missile attack as a “failure” and confirmed that there were no casualties among US personnel. According to reports, a coalition aircraft launched a retaliatory strike against a missile launcher
Investigation and response
Iraqi security forces launched an extensive search operation near the Syrian border to find those responsible for the attack. The Iraqi security media cell reiterated its commitment to bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, conflicting reports emerged about an earlier explosion at an Iraqi military base, with one claim suggesting it was an assault while the army conducts further investigations.
The rocket attack from Iraq into Syria underscores the ongoing chaos in the region and voices concerns about escalating tensions between various factions and the US-led coalition presence in the Middle East.
