The United States military carried out an airstrike in Iraq on Tuesday night, targeting unspecified combatants attempting to launch a one-way attack drone, according to officials. The operation, which took place near Baghdad, comes after a series of attacks on American positions in Iraq and Syria in recent days, The Washington Post reports.
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Reports now indicate that the U.S. airstrike struck the headquarters of the armored units of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Babylon.
The jets took off from a base in Jordan and entered Iraq through Jordanian airspace.
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This airstrike marks the end of months of relative calm between US forces and Iran-supported militias in the region. US officials disclosed that the strike occurred in Musayib, a town south of Baghdad, but provided few additional details. A defense official stated, "Based on recent attacks in Iraq and Syria, US military officials assessed that the activity constituted a threat to American and coalition forces. This action underscores the United States' commitment to the safety and security of our personnel. We maintain the inherent right to self-defense and will not hesitate to take appropriate action."
According to another defense official, the airstrike followed three attacks on US forces in the past week. On Thursday, two rockets targeted al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, while another struck on or near a US outpost in Syria. The following day, two additional rockets targeted the facility in Syria, known as Mission Support Site Euphrates. No damage or injuries were reported in any of these incidents.
The recent escalation comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, with US officials expressing concern that Israel's war in Gaza could potentially spill over into other parts of the Middle East where Iran wields considerable influence. Earlier on Tuesday, Israel carried out an airstrike in a busy neighborhood on the outskirts of Beirut, killing a senior Hezbollah commander.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking to reporters after meeting with officials in the Philippines, expressed hope for a diplomatic resolution to avoid a full-blown conflict. However, he affirmed that the United States would defend Israel if attacked by Hezbollah, stating, "We've been clear about that."
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says, "I don't think war is inevitable," when asked about Israel and its wider operations in the Middle East.#Israel #Lebanon #Hezbollah #Hamas #US
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The recent violence follows a period of increased attacks on US military positions in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan by Iranian-backed groups in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. US officials have linked these various groups, including the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, to an Iranian-supported network.
In February, after at least 165 attacks on US forces, the Biden administration approved airstrikes in response to the deaths of three US soldiers killed in a one-way drone strike on their base in Jordan.
The latest airstrike in Iraq comes as US and Iraqi officials are in negotiations regarding a possible withdrawal of at least some of the approximately 2,500 US troops currently stationed in Iraq. An additional 900 troops are based in Syria who rely on personnel in Iraq for logistical support to counter the Islamic State.
