Rocket attack hits US base near Baghdad airport
Washington recently announced a deal with Iraq to end the US military mission in the country, which is said to include troop withdrawals from a number of bases
A US facility near Baghdad International Airport was targeted with rockets early on 1 October.
Two Iraqi security sources told Reuters that Katyusha rockets were fired at a base that hosts troops near Baghdad airport.
The two sources said a preliminary investigation showed that three rockets were fired, including one which hit near buildings used by Baghdad’s counterterrorism service. Vehicles were damaged and caught fire, yet there were no casualties, they said.
A US defense official told Reuters later on 1 October that “All military personnel are accounted for and military forces were not targeted as had been reported.”
As tensions soar across the region, particularly in the aftermath of the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and as Iraq-based resistance groups have stepped up attacks against Israel, Iraqi military forces and resistance factions have reportedly been on high-alert.
Concerns are said to be growing that Tel Aviv could soon expand its operations to Iraq.
“A critical meeting is anticipated at the residence of Grand Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, where Iraqi factions will gather to discuss how to manage the situation and potentially reduce tensions,” the New Arab reported on Tuesday.
Kurdish politician Sardar Abdullah is cited as saying by the outlet that "In a situation like this, it is normal for the Iraqi army [or the Iran-backed militias] to be on alert.”
“They should understand that Israel's cabinet has already prepared for a land invasion of southern Lebanon, and Netanyahu's government sees a golden opportunity to eliminate threats, particularly with only five weeks left until the US presidential elections," he added.
Hebrew media reports that Israeli forces are already operating on the ground in Lebanon, carrying “limited” raids. Al Mayadeen correspondent Ali Mortada confirmed that troops are still on the Israeli side of the border.
Hezbollah has attacked several positions and concentrations of Israeli forces stationed at several military sites near the border in recent hours.
During a phone call this week between Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the two discussed “reaffirmed US support for Israel's right to defend itself against Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other Iran-backed terrorist organizations,” including resistance factions in Iraq.
According to the correspondent for Israel’s Channel 13, Moriah Ashraf, Israel is now even planning an “exchange of blows” with Iran in order to expand the war further.
The Iraqi resistance factions have recently stepped up their operations against Israeli military sites, and have unofficially resumed attacks on US bases in Syria in a sporadic manner, after halting their operations targeting Washington’s facilities in January following pressure from the Iraqi government.
Baghdad has been trying to diplomatically facilitate an exit of US troops from Iraq. Late last month, the US announced an agreement with Iraq to officially end Washington’s military mission against ISIS, which will include a departure from several bases.
The Iraqi resistance has repeatedly criticized US-Iraqi withdrawal talks, and has warned that the measures being discussed between the two sides do not actually amount to a full or serious US withdrawal from the country.