Illustrative image, Canadian Tactical Aviation Supporting Coalition Forces in Iraq, by the official account of The Canadian Armed Forces on Twitter (@CanadianForces)
US special forces were behind an operation that thwarted an attempt by pro-Iranian factions to launch a drone attack from the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala, Iraqi sources reported on April 24.
The Iraqi Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency had claimed responsibility for the special operation, which took place near Baqubah city on April 19.
Iraqi security sources said on April 22 that intelligence officers intercepted two vehicles with official government number plates which were moving two suicide drones to a launch site. The officers seized the two drones, which were reportedly prepared for an attack on an unspecified Iraqi oil refinery.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
The official Iraqi narrative was dismissed by Iraqi sources, including researcher Blesa Shaways, who said that the operation was carried out by US special forces.
According to Shaways, the operation involved six UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook military helicopters. During the operation, US special forces detained two Iranian military advisors and a senior commander of the Iraqi Kata’ib Hezbollah named Yasir Muhsin.
The two Iranian military advisors were imminently released. However, Mushin is supposedly still detained by either US or Iraqi forces.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
So far, there have been no comments on these serious claims from the US, the Iraq, Iran or Kata’ib Hezbollah. Usually, false claims are quickly denied, especially by the Iraqi government.
Pro-Iranian factions carried out many attacks on US bases and diplomatic mission in Iraq following the assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Deputy-Commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, and Commander of Iran’s Quds Force, Qassim Soleimani more than two years ago.
The Iraqi intelligence and security forces don’t usually carry out preemptive operations against pro-Iranian factions. Due to this, it is possible that the US played a role in Diyala operation. More details on the operation will likely surface soon.
