A rocket attack originating from Iraq has targeted a US military base in northeastern Syria. This attack, which occurred late on Sunday in the town of Zummar, is the first of its kind since early February when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq ceased their campaign against US troops.
The hostilities resumed shortly after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s visit to the United States, where he met with President Joe Biden. A statement from a Telegram group linked to Kataib Hezbollah mentioned that armed factions in Iraq decided to resume attacks due to the lack of progress in talks to end the US-led military coalition in the country.
However, Kataib Hezbollah later denied issuing any statement claiming a return to attacks on US forces, calling it “fabricated news.” The Iraqi security forces accused outlaw elements of targeting a base of the international coalition with rockets in Syrian territory.
A US official reported that more than five rockets were fired from Iraq towards a coalition base in Rmeilan, Syria, but no US personnel were harmed. The official referred to the attack as a “failed rocket attack,” and an aircraft from the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria retaliated by striking the launch site.
Iraqi security forces conducted a search operation in northern Nineveh province and located the vehicle used in the attack. The truck with a rocket launcher fixed on the back was destroyed and seized for further investigation.
The escalation of attacks against US forces in the region intensified after the conflict in Gaza started on October 7. In January, three US service members were killed and dozens wounded in a drone attack near the Syrian border in northeast Jordan.
Overall, the recent rocket attack highlights the ongoing tensions and security challenges in the region, particularly concerning the presence of US troops in Iraq and Syria.
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Rocket attack from Iraq targets US base in Syria
The attack was the first by Iranian-backed groups against US troops in Iraq since they halted a campaign in early February.
Several rockets have been fired from Iraq towards a US military base in northeastern Syria.
The attack, launched from the town of Zummar late on Sunday, was the first since early February to target US troops, when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq brought to an end a campaign that had seen regular strikes against the US-led international coalition.