The Ain al-Asad air base, which houses US troops in Iraq, was targeted by a drone attack on Tuesday, just a week before a high-level Iraqi military delegation is set to visit Washington for talks on the American-led military coalition's presence in the country.
Several explosions were reported at the base in the western province of Anbar following the attack by two drones. Fortunately, no casualties or damage have been reported so far. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
This incident marks the second attack since a series of strikes on US bases in Iraq were suspended earlier this year.
According to a US official, two drones were previously shot down near the Ain al-Asad base in April. This recent attack is part of an ongoing series of assaults on US bases in Iraq and Syria, often attributed to groups under the banner of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. These attacks are reportedly fueled by Washington's support for Israeli actions in the region.
The timing of this attack is particularly sensitive as it comes ahead of crucial negotiations in Washington regarding the future of the US-led coalition in Iraq. Earlier this year, Baghdad and Washington agreed to form a committee to establish a timetable for the phased withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.
Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, have consistently called for the expulsion of US troops from their country. Iraqi resistance groups have also been advocating for the end of foreign military presence in Iraq, especially after the US-led invasion in 2003 based on false claims of weapons of mass destruction.
Currently, there are nearly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and around 900 in Syria, supposedly part of a mission to combat Daesh (ISIS). Despite the defeat of the terrorist group in late 2017, the US has maintained its military presence in the region.
In 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted for the expulsion of US forces, following the assassination of Iran's top anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani and deputy PMU commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis in a drone strike ordered by then US President Donald Trump.
