Illustrative image.
At least 11 rocket and drone attacks targeted bases hosting United States forces in Iraq and Syria on December 8, according to Sabreen News, an Iraqi news channel on Telegram that is affiliated with Iranian-backed factions.
The channel said that two attacks targeted a U.S. base near Erbil International Airport in the northern Iraqi autonomous region of Kurdistan and three others hit Ayn al-Asad Air Base in the western province of al-Anbar.
In addition, Khrab al-Jir airstrip and al-Shadadi base in the northeastern Syrian province of al-Hasakah were each targeted twice, according to the channel. Two other attacks targeted U.S. bases in al-Omar oil fields and the Conoco gas plant in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
The wave of attacks began after a salvo of rockets targeted the U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, early on in the day.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella group of Iranian-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for two of the attacks only, one that targeted Ayn al-Asad and another that targeted Conoco. However, it is more than likely that it was also responsible for the rest.
The IRI was behind dozens of attacks that targeted bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since Israel declared war on the Gaza Strip two months ago. So far, the Pentagon has acknowledged 78 attacks on its forces in the two countries, so far.
The last wave of attacks show how U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria are facing growing threats as a result of Washington’s unconditional support for the Israeli war on Gaza.
