The Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted American forces on Sunday in the Green Village in Deir Ezzor and Ain Al-Assad in Anbar Province, Iraq. This was a response to the crimes in Gaza. The resistance announced that they directly hit their targets with drone strikes at both the Green Village in Deir Ezzor and the Ain Al-Assad base.
This escalation follows a series of similar attacks in recent weeks, including those on November 19, 22, and earlier on November 15 at the Ain Al-Assad Airbase.
The US has faced a surge in attacks by Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria, especially since October 17, corresponding with the rise in civilian deaths in Israel’s war against Hamas. The attacks primarily involved one-way suicide drones or rockets, causing minor injuries to US personnel, mainly traumatic brain injuries. The US response has been cautious, with limited airstrikes targeting Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and associated groups’ facilities in Syria to avoid escalating violence and alienating the Iraqi government. The aim is to pressure Iran to rein in militia groups and to degrade their attack capabilities without intensifying the conflict.
This situation reflects the complex dynamics of US-Iraq relations and the broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, illustrating the delicate balance the US tries to maintain in responding to such attacks while avoiding broader regional conflicts.
Recent attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria have escalated in frequency and intensity. On November 23, US forces were targeted four times in a single day with rockets and armed drones, although these attacks did not result in casualties or damage to infrastructure. The Pentagon reported that between October 17 and October 26, at least 20 attacks targeted US forces, indicating a concentrated period of aggression. This pattern of attacks has been attributed to militant groups and has occurred amid growing unrest in the Middle East, with nearly two dozen attacks recorded in just a two-week span. The situation underscores the volatile security environment in Iraq and Syria and the ongoing challenges faced by US forces in the region.
