Armed Iraqi factions issued a statement today, Wednesday, confirming that they targeted a U.S. base in northern Iraq with a drone, in response to the bombing of the Gaza Strip.
The statement, released by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” stated, “In response to the crimes committed by the enemy against our people in Gaza, the warriors of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted the American occupation base (Harir) in northern Iraq with a drone, hitting its target directly.”
American bases in Iraq have been subjected to attacks, and U.S. forces responded by bombing locations in Iraq’s Babil Governorate, sparking widespread condemnation within the country and calls for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Since Wednesday, three Iraqi bases used by U.S.-led coalition troops have been targeted in five separate attacks — Ain al-Assad, the Al-Harir base in northern Iraq, and a military camp near Baghdad airport.
The United States currently has about 2,500 troops stationed at the three bases, alongside around 1,000 soldiers from other countries in the coalition set up to fight the Islamic State jihadi group.
The attacks came after factions loyal to Iran stepped up threats against the United States.
One of them, the Hezbollah Brigades, demanded that U.S. forces “leave” Iraq, “otherwise they will taste the fires of hell.”
