US Forces Attacked in Iraq With Iranian Made Suicide Drones

As an avid SOFREP reader, I’m sure you are well aware that regional tensions have surged following a devastating explosion at a Gaza hospital amid the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel. The ripples of this conflict extended to Iraq, where U.S. bases were targeted by drone attacks, marking an uptick in violence in the region.

Over the last 24 hours, two drone attacks aimed at a U.S. base in western Iraq, and another targeted a base in the north. While U.S. forces managed to intercept all three drones, two were destroyed, and one was merely damaged, resulting in minor injuries among the coalition forces stationed at the western base. This was confirmed by a statement from the U.S. Central Command on Wednesday, which also emphasized the heightened state of alert and the commitment to defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threats.

The drone attacks have been linked to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, who have publicly threatened U.S. facilities due to the U.S.’s support for Israel. Following the attacks, a coalition of these militias, part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility and indicated that more actions against the “American occupation” are to be expected.

“Our missiles, drones, and special forces are ready to direct qualitative strikes at the American enemy in its bases and disrupt its interests if it intervenes in this battle,” said a Hezbollah spokesman. He also expressed their desire to launch missiles toward Israeli targets.

These events unfolded amidst a growing concern of a broader regional conflict fueled by the ongoing Hamas-Israel war, which began on October 7. Hezbollah, a solid ally of Hamas based in Lebanon, has been a focal point of concern. Nonetheless, the threat from Iraqi militias backed by Iran has now come to the fore.

The head of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, Ahmad “Abu Hussein” al-Hamidawi, issued a statement last week threatening further strikes against U.S. bases and Israeli targets if the U.S. interferes in the ongoing conflict. Following a catastrophic explosion at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday night, which resulted in numerous casualties, the group blamed the U.S. and its support for Israel, calling for an end to the U.S. presence in Iraq.

While a U.S. defense official confirmed an attack on the al-Asad military base in western Iraq, another faction of the Iranian-backed militias claimed a second drone attack targeting the al-Harir airbase in northern Iraq. The Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq reported an intercepted drone crashing near a village.

During the course of these events, Iran-aligned groups in Iraq developed what they refer to as a “joint operations room” to aid Hamas. While being on high alert, these groups await Iran‘s directive to engage further, signaling a complicated web of alliances and a precarious situation that could escalate depending on the trajectory of the Hamas-Israel war.

The Iraqi factions aligned with Iran and Hamas are not expected to open a new front imminently, according to Lahib Higel from the International Crisis Group. Renad Mansour of Chatham House added that these groups are divided between those involved in Iraqi politics and the more militant factions closely tied to Iran, which have historically acted as foot soldiers in regional conflicts, including in Yemen and Syria. The unfolding events pose a critical question: will Iran, along with the leaders of these groups, decide to escalate the conflict further?

SOFREP will continue to monitor the situation and report back as the situation dictates.