In a significant development, the U.S. military has intercepted and thwarted an attack targeting its forces in Iraq. Colonel Sean Heydinger, an American military spokesperson, confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. Army successfully countered the attack by downing two drones.
In an exclusive statement to The Hill, Colonel Heydinger stated, “An attempt to attack U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq on the morning of October 18th was thwarted.” He further added, “Two drones were shot down in a single direction during the attack, with no casualties reported among our forces.”
The statement did not specify the suspected perpetrators behind the attack, which was aimed at the Ain al-Assad airbase in Iraq.
Hours later, another drone attack targeted the Harir Airbase in Erbil, northern Iraq, where U.S. forces are stationed. Multiple reports confirm that this attack was also intercepted. A militia group in Iraq claimed responsibility for the incident.
These attacks mark the first of their kind on U.S. forces in Iraq in over a year. They come at a time when Washington is concerned about the potential escalation of conflict between Hamas and Israel into a broader regional conflict, or the exploitation of these tensions by groups seeking to destabilize the region. The situation in the Middle East remains tense, and the U.S. military continues to closely monitor developments in the region.
