By Deutsche Welle
05 Nov 2023, 19:27 PM EST
The pro-Iranian group Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility this Sunday for a new attack against the Ain al Asad military basewhich houses American personnel in western Iraq, on the same day that an unexpected visit to Baghdad by the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was made on a tour of the Middle East.
This amalgamation of Iraqi militias backed by Iran said in a statement that on Sunday night it attacked the Ain al Asad base with “four mortar shells that hit their target” and that, later, “the fighters withdrew safely.” It is currently unknown whether the attack caused any damage or deaths among US forces.
In Iraq, I met with Prime Minister @MohamedShia to emphasize that we must prevent the conflict from spreading. I urged him to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on US personnel in Iraq and discussed our work to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/HthTWR1m5o
—Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 5, 2023
This new incident took place during Blinken’s surprise visit to Baghdad, where he described this type of action as “totally unacceptable.”s. “The attacks and threats by militias aligned with Iran are totally unacceptable and we will take any steps necessary to protect our people,” the head of US diplomacy said at a press conference from Baghdad, where he met with the Iraqi prime minister. Mohamed Shia al Sudani.
The United States does not want conflict
Blinken’s visit to Baghdad had not been announced, for security reasons. In his appearance before the media, the US official assured that his country “does not seek a conflict with Iran.” but he will not sit idly by while his troops are attacked. Washington accuses Tehran of being indirectly involved in these attacks, which also targeted US troops in neighboring Syria.
According to Pentagon figures released on Friday, Between October 17 and November 3, there were some 17 attacks in Iraq and 12 in Syria against US interests. Nearly 2,500 soldiers from that country are deployed in Iraq in order to advise their Iraqi counterparts in the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group.
The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, condemned the attacks and assured that “investigations” were opened into the matter.
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